Volume XVI: One Word Wonders

This Friday we’re trying something new, so bear with us. Diving in to the origins of one- word expressions we use every day, even though we may not know why.

I. Underdog 🐶

We all love a classic underdog tale; Rocky Balboa, Herb Brooks and the 80’ Olympic team, or Linsanity lighting the association on fire for a month.

But the roots of the term are a little more grotesque. It stems from 18th century dog fighting circles. Where the dog pinned beneath its opponent, bloodied and battered, was dubbed the “underdog”, the one least likely to win, let alone survive.

So if Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers pull off the improbable and hoist the Larry O’Brien, tip your cap… but maybe spare a nod to Mike Vick, for history’s sake.

II. Hijack 🛻

Some people hijack cars, others conversations, yet few could tell you where the word came from.

Beginning in prohibition era America, robbers would approach bootleggers carrying illegal liquor and greet them with “Hi, Jack!” (like calling someone “guy” or “pal”). The pleasantry — plus a little moonshined-induced cheer — kept the victim off guard, letting the hijacker walk off with the goods.

So if you are alone at night and you hear an enthusiastic “Hi, Jack!”, step to it!

III. OK ✍️

In 1839, a Boston newspaper used “OK” as a tongue-in-cheek abbreviation for “oll korrect” — a deliberately misspelled take on “all correct.”

It caught fire during Martin Van Buren’s 1840 presidential run (he was nicknamed “Old Kinderhook”), and never looked back. Since then, it’s conquered the globe, crossed languages, and even made it to the moon.

Keep on sending on. Forward to a friend.