I wrote this phrase in an email the other day and wondered about its origin. Phrases.org.uk define this as an American phrase first seen in the late 20th century and is another way of saying ‘okay’; however they list other American meanings as ‘absurd, ridiculous or ‘to swindle or deceive’ (which personally I’ve never used). They also show alternative spellings as follows:
- okay doke
- okey doke
- okee-doke
- okely-dokely (apparently originating from the Simpsons)
Oxford Dictionaries.com have the word hypenated i.e. okey-dokey and explain that it’s an exclamation, adjective or adverb meaning ok.
How to use it in a sentence
“Will you pick Sara up from the station please?” said Jason.
“Okey dokey” I replied.
As an aside
Quite by chance, I stumbled upon a website called Okey Dokey.co.uk that is aimed at students learning English – which might be of use to someone.
Additional note: Since writing this blog, I have had an interesting comment from one of my readers who knows a bit more about this phrase – please see comments.
That’s all for today
Until tomorrow…
Sandra
46 days of My Writing Challenge to go…
My Writing Notebook 
Sandra,
The term “okey dokey” came from the “Our Gang” comedy series in the 1930s. It was the first U.S. media to treat boys, girls, blacks and whites as equals. The character “Buckwheat” was famous for the line, “Okey dokey,” an offshoot of OK. The Simpsons just modernized the phrase.
Bruce
Posted by Bruce Stambaugh | March 15, 2012, 10:10 pmThanks for the additional information Bruce – very interesting. I’ll add a reference to your comment in the post. Sandra
Posted by Sandra Madeira | March 16, 2012, 7:44 am