OK

(redirected from O.K.s)

(Have you) been OK?

A question about one's well-being. I haven't seen you in so long! Have you been OK? A: "Have you been OK? I know your part of town was really affected by the hurricane." B: "Somehow, it managed to miss our street, thank goodness!" A: "Been OK these days?" B: "Oh yeah, just busy with work. You know, the usual."

(Is) everything OK?

Are you all right? How are you? Said when one suspects that the person being addressed is feeling sad or not their usual self. Everything OK? You seem kind of tense today. A: "Is everything OK?" B: "Oh yeah, everything's fine." Is everything OK, Jane? It's not like you to snap at the kids like that.

(that's) OK by me

I'm amenable to this situation. A: "How do you feel about going to the eight o'clock movie?" B: "OK by me!" Sure, spaghetti's OK by me—let's start cooking. A: "So I'll meet you here tomorrow at 3, yeah?" B: "OK by me."

(that's) OK with me

I'm amenable to this situation. A: "How do you feel about going to the eight o'clock movie?" B: "OK with me!" Sure, spaghetti's OK with me—let's start cooking. A: "So I'll meet you here tomorrow at 3, yeah?" B: "OK with me—see you then."

See also: OK

AK

1. A shortening of "AK-47 assault rifle." In the movie, the hero busts into the room wielding an AK in each hand and blows all the bad guys away. When I found myself staring down the barrel of that guy's AK, all I could do was beg for mercy. What are you thinking, bringing an AK into a crowded place like this?

2. An initialism of "alter kocker," a Yiddish term referring to a crotchety old man. Don't you listen to that schlemiel, sonny. He's nothing but an AK! The man downstairs may seem like an AK, but he's really very nice—he's actually helped me carry my groceries many times. Please don't take it personally—my husband can be such an AK sometimes!

A-OK

Operating or existing in perfect working order or in the best condition to be hoped for. Primarily heard in US. We've got the new engine fitted to the car now, and so far it's running A-OK! I've felt A-OK since I left the hospital last week. I'm not a morning person, so I'm A-OK with working the night shift.

Are you OK?

1. Used to ask about someone's emotional well-being, especially if they seem upset or distressed. A: "Tom just dumped me." B: "Oh, geeze, I'm so sorry. Are you OK?" A: "Hey, are you OK?" B: "No, I just got a call that Grandma is in the hospital." Are you OK? You seem kind of distracted today.

2. Used to check whether someone is injured or ill. A: "Oh my gosh, are you OK?" B: "Yes, I'm fine, thanks. It was just a scratch." I heard you had an accident on the way to work! Are you OK? A: "Are you OK?" B: "I just need to catch my breath."

be doing OK

1. To be feeling fine or coping satisfactorily. Often used as a response to a question about one's well-being to indicate that one is relatively well. Oh, I'm doing OK—the grief has begun to lessen with time. A: "How are you, Phil?" B: "I'm doing OK, how've you been?" I'm doing OK—well, aside from this blasted sciatica pain.

2. To be performing moderately successfully. Thankfully, our business is doing OK this quarter because we've had a lot more sales. He's doing OK in Triple-A, but he needs to post some flashier numbers if he wants to get called up to the majors. Has your computer been doing OK since that crash?

See also: OK

be OK

To be fine; to be not especially good or bad. A: "How have you been?" B: "Oh, I've been OK." These fries are OK, but they're not the best I've ever had. I don't know what everyone's raving about it—I thought that movie was just OK.

See also: OK

doing OK

1. Feeling fine or recovering somewhat. Typically used as a response to a question about one's well-being. Oh, I'm doing OK—the grief has begun to lessen with time. A: "How is your sister?" B: "Doing OK. It just takes a long time to get back to normal after that kind of injury." I'm doing OK. Just counting down the days till Friday—you know how it is!

2. A question about one's well-being. You doing OK? I know you've had a rough week at work. A: "Have you been doing OK? I know your part of town was really affected by the hurricane." B: "Somehow, it managed to miss our street, thank goodness!" A: "Doing OK these days?" B: "Oh yeah, just busy with school. You know, the usual."

See also: OK

everything will be OK

A phrase of comfort in times of stress or uncertainty. I know you're worried about finding a new job, but everything will be OK—I promise. A: "I don't know how we're going to fix this." B: "Don't worry. Everything will be OK." I know there's been a lot of setbacks, but try to have faith that everything will be OK.

everything's going to be OK

A phrase used to reassure or comfort someone. I know you're worried, but everything's going to be OK—I promise. A: "I don't know how we're going to fix this." B: "Don't worry. Everything's going to be OK." I know there's been a lot of setbacks, but try to have faith that everything's going to be OK.

feeling OK

1. A phrase used to ask someone if they are feeling fine, especially when one suspects they may not be. I heard you were sick earlier this week—are you feeling OK now? Feeling OK today, Tim? You look a little under the weather. A: "Are you sure you're feeling OK?" B: "Yeah, sorry if I'm kind of out of it—I just woke up from a nap."

2. Feeling fine. Yeah, I'm feeling OK, just tired. My anxiety was really bad over the summer, but, after some medication adjustments, I'm finally feeling OK again. I'm feeling OK. Why, do I look sad?

get the OK

To receive permission or approval to do something. Don't worry, I got the OK from the boss before I started doing all this research. Once I get the OK, I'll transfer your funds into the new account. We're just waiting to get the OK from our managers before we release the latest software update.

give (one) the OK

To tell one that it is permissible to do something. Don't worry, the boss gave me the OK to work overtime this week. We're just waiting our manager to give us the OK before we release the latest software update. Once Finance gives me the OK, I'll transfer your funds into the new account.

I'll bite

slang OK, I'll engage with you on this topic. A: "I think I've figured out why Andrew is being such a jerk." B: "Are you not going to tell us any more? Fine, I'll bite—why is Andrew being such a jerk?" I'll bite—what's the big surprise? A: "I can't believe you guys don't want to hear more about my brilliant new invention!" B: "OK, I'll bite. What's your invention?"

OK

informal Originally used as a facetious initialism of "oll korrect" ("all correct"), part of a fad in Boston and New York in the late 1800s of using incorrect initialisms in place of common phrases. It can also be rendered phonetically as "okay."

1. interjection Used to express acceptance, understanding, acknowledgement, etc. A: "Hey, can you give me a ride home?" B: "OK. Hop in." OK, OK—we can have pizza for dinner tonight. Just stop whining about it! A: "I'm going out, I'll be back tonight." B: "OK, see you later."

2. interjection Used as a question word to seek or establish acceptance, understanding, acknowledgement, etc. We're going to move the meeting to Monday, OK? Look, I just want you to understand why I said what I said, OK?

3. adjective Satisfactory or agreeable. Was everything OK with your stay? I hope the food tastes OK. I've never made this recipe before.

4. adjective Fair, fine, or middling; neither especially good nor bad. The movie was only OK. Don't waste your money seeing it in the theater, but it might be worth a rental. My foot feels OK these days, but I'm not ready to run a marathon or anything.

5. adjective Safe; uninjured or unharmed. Sorry for making such a sharp turn there! Is everyone OK? A: "Marty, thank goodness! I was worried sick about you!" B: "I'm OK, Mom, really."

6. adjective Functioning, operating, or working properly. Thankfully, the computers are all OK despite the power surge. A: "Is it possible that the network is down?" B: "No, the network is OK. Something else must be causing the error."

7. adverb In a manner that is neither especially good nor bad. A: "Nice job!" B: "Thanks. I did OK, I guess. I think I probably could have performed a bit better in the middle of the song, but it was fine."

8. noun Approval, authorization, agreement, or endorsement. We can't start work on a new project until we get the OK from the boss. We've gotten OKs from three of the four stakeholders. We're just waiting for the last one before we take the next step in development.

9. verb To give approval, authorization, agreement, or endorsement (for something). You'll need the boss to OK any changes you want to make to the budget. The professor OK'ed my thesis proposal, so now I need to start really digging into my research for it.

OK yah

Belonging to or typical of young, fashionable upper- or upper-middle-class people (known as "Sloane Rangers," or "Sloanes" for short). Primarily heard in UK. She comes from a working-class background, but she tries desperately to dress and act like she's OK yah. This show is totally and unashamedly OK yah, and I kind of love it for that.

See also: OK

R U OK?

An abbreviated form of the phrase "are you OK," used in text messages and online communications to inquire after the mental or physical well-being of someone. Often spelled as a single word. I heard U lost UR job. R U OK? A: "I fell off my bike on the way to work." B: "Eesh! RUOK?"

rule OK

To be the best; to be the most dominant or in control; to be the most favored or supported by the public. (Used originally in relation to football clubs or local gangs in graffiti writing.) Primarily heard in UK. Someone had come with a can of black spray paint and crossed out the big "Leeds Rules OK" that was painted on the side of the school. But in this part of the country, the conservatives rule OK with almost no opposition.

that's OK

A casual dismissal or refusal of what someone else has just said. A: "Do you need a bag?" B: "Nah, that's OK. I can just put those things in my purse." A: "Oh, sorry, I would have held the door if I'd seen you coming." B: "That's OK, don't worry about it."

See also: OK

Weird flex, but OK.

slang Said when one believes another person's comment or statement to be a boast that is somehow strange, out of place, or not actually a desirable thing to brag about. Used especially in online communications. A: "Yeah? Well, I once ate 25 hot dogs in less than five minutes!" B: "Wow. Weird flex, but OK."

I'll bite.

Inf. Okay, I will answer your question.; Okay, I will listen to your joke or play your little guessing game. Bob: Guess what is in this box? Bill: I'll bite. Bob: A new toaster! John: Didyou hear the joke about the used car salesman? Jane: No, I'll bite.

— rule(s), OK?

used to express your enthusiasm for a particular person or thing. informal, humorous

2000 Elle Here at ELLE we've always been big fans of Kerrigan's urban babewear, and this season…she really rocked. Daryl K rules, OK?

See also: OK

be doing OˈK/oˈkay

(informal) be successful; be making a lot of money: ‘How’s business?’ ‘We’re doing OK, thanks.’ ♢ They’re doing more than okay with those new restaurants. They’re making a fortune.

give somebody/get the OˈK/oˈkay

(informal) give somebody/receive approval or permission: I’m waiting to get the OK before I start on the project. ♢ He can’t start until his boss gives him the OK.

ak

and ok (ɑk)

n. October. (Securities markets: options and futures trading.) When the oks expire on Friday, we’ll start looking at the dec index. I told him to buy the “aks,” or Octobers, and he looked at me like I was crazy!

ok

verb

See ak

A-OK

mod. in the best of condition. I really feel A-OK.

I’ll bite

sent. You want me to ask what or why, so, what or why? I’ll bite. Why did the chicken cross the road?

OK

and okay

1. interj. accepted; agreed. (Initialism. From a jocular, mispelled abbreviation Oll Kerrect.) So, he said, like, “okay,” and, like, I go “okay.” So we both go “Okay.” Okay?

2. mod. acceptable. This cake is okay, but not what I would call first rate.

3. mod. acceptably. She ran okay—nothing spectacular.

4. n. (someone’s) acceptance. I won’t give the final okay until I see the plans.

5. tv. to approve something. She refused to okay our plans.

6. Go to ak.

A-OK

Excellent. The term dates from a specific incident in 1961, when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Colonel “Shorty” Power misunderstood astronaut Alan Shepard’s “OK” for “A-OK,” indicating that his suborbital flight was going well. The term caught on, along with other space-flight terms that entered the language about the same time.