A-OK

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008)

"The Okay Sign" as seen from the point of view of the person performing it

An A-OK (pronounced /ˌeɪoʊˈkeɪ/ a okay) is both a saying, derived from okay, and a hand-gesture done by connecting the thumb and forefinger in to a circle (the O), and holding the other fingers straight or relaxed in the air.

While the gesture is positive in some countries, in certain parts of middle and southern Europe (although not in Spain) the gesture is considered offensive, as in you are a zero or you are nothing. In some Mediterranean countries, as well as in Brazil, it represents vulgar expressions: either an insult (you are an asshole), or the slang for anus itself. In Brazil it can either mean okay or up yours! if the palm of the hand is faced to the performer, especially the performer's torso. By the same symbolism, it stands for marica (faggot) in several South American countries.

In Australia, it can either mean okay or zero.

In Germany, it can either mean okay or arsehole. The latter is mainly used by traffic participants, called the Autofahrergruß (drivers' salutation). Insulting police with this gesture can result in a fine of up to €750.^[1]

In American Sign Language, it is the letter F, or the number 9, and when made with the thumb and forefinger parallel to the ground, means asshole.

In Turkey and Venezuela, it is a very offensive gesture, regarded as a reference to homosexuality, and reflecting a wider than usual (due to anal sex) anus of a homosexual man. In Peru too, but it is upside-down with the middle, ring and little fingers pointing down.

In most continental European countries, when the sign is placed over the nose, with the nose protruding through the O made by the thumb and forefinger, it means drunk.

In Japan, it also means zero or money.

In India, it means something paradoxical, incredible. It is usually shown when a person finds something as best in his opinion.

In underwater diving, it widely means both Are you okay?, and its response Yes, I'm OK, or just I'm OK. It can be confusing for beginners, because using the thumbs up gesture rather than the A-OK gesture signalis that the person making that gesture wants to ascend to the surface.

In Finland, it is used to celebrate ending of the national service. During their final day in the Finnish Defence Forces, conscripts use it denote they have zero days left in their service, and that they will receive an honorable discharge during the course of that day. It is also used to tease and taunt other conscripts that still have various numbers of days left, and are stuck while their comrades are allowed to leave. Colloquially, it is referred to as the TJ0 or 'Tänään jäljellä 0 aamua', which translates to 'Zero mornings left today'. The official TJ counter can be viewed on the Finnish Defence Forces website.^[2]

In Macedonia, in addition to meaning OK, it is also a nationalistic United Macedonia salute. The two fingers in a circle symbolize the letter O, which is the first letter of the Macedonian word Обединета (Obedineta) meaning united, referring to a United Macedonia. The other three fingers symbolize the three regions of Macedonia: Vardar Macedonia, Aegean Macedonia, and Pirin Macedonia. The five fingers as a whole resemble the Vergina Sun, which was Macedonia's flag from 1992 to 1995.

In Mexico, if the hand gesture is slightly tilted it may mean huevos(eggs), alluding to fellatio.

References

v • d • e Gestures Friendly gestures A-ok · Air kiss · Cheek kissing · Doff / hat tip · Dap greeting · Elbow bump · Eskimo kissing · Fist bump · High five · Namaste · Shaka · Thumbs up · Wai Formal gestures Bowing · Curtsey · Hand-kissing · Handshaking · Genuflection · Kowtow Salutes Salute · Bellamy salute · Hitler salute · Roman salute · Scout sign and salute · Three-finger salute · Two-finger salute Celebration gestures Applause · Fist pump · Victory clasp · Gator Chomp · Gig 'em Aggies · Guns Up · High five/Gimme five · Pitchfork/Trident · Sic 'em Bears · Tomahawk Chop · Hook 'em Horns · Cougar Paw Obscene gestures Bras d'honneur · Sign of the horns · Finger · Mooning · Shocker · Moutza · V sign · Wanker Finger counting Chinese number gestures  · Chisanbop  · Finger binary Other Air quotes · Anasyrma · Articulatory gestures · Crossed fingers · Finger gun · Gang signal · Hand-rubbing · Head bobble · Jazz hands · Lock and fly · Loser · Manual communication · Mudra · Nod · Poke · Pollice verso · Puppy face · Raised fist · Rock-paper-scissors  · Shrug · Sign of the Cross · Types of gestures · Varadamudra · V sign · Vulcan salute List of gestures