Bob’s your uncle A British informal expression like there you are, there you have it, often used at the end of a list of instructions; a phrase used in place of something unstated but obvious.

One conjecture says the phrase derives from Robert Peel’s campaign slogan for a seat in Parliament: “Vote for Bob—Bob’s your uncle.” Robert Peel founded the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829, hence the label bobby for a police officer. Supposedly, Bob alluded to his stance on law and order and uncle implied benevolence. This theory is unlikely, however, considering that the earliest citation in the OED is from 1937, almost a century after the slogan would have been spoken.

O.K. All right, fine, correct, satisfactory; also, okay, okey-dokey. The origin of this saying has been the subject of much controversy among etymologists. One explanation traces it to a group of witty Bostonian writers who reveled in abbreviating ludicrously misspelled words. Their only abbreviation of any lasting consequence was O.K., which stood for oll korrect ‘all correct.’ The accepted etymology today is the following: A group of Democrats, in support of Martin Van Buren’s 1840 presidential bid, founded an organization entitled the Democratic O.K. Club, in which O.K. stood for Old Kinderhook, Kinderhook being the New York birthplace of Van Buren. O.K. soon became Van Buren’s campaign slogan. By late 1840, O.K. was firmly established in American English and appeared in songs and literature of the day.

The expression has also developed the related meaning of a stamp of approval.

Even though its usage has now spread to other English speaking nations, O.K. is perhaps the most typical American colloquialism.

that’s the ticket That’s the proper or correct thing; that’s the right procedure or attitude, that fills the bill. This expression, dating from the early 1800s, probably derives from the 19th century practice among charities of offering to the needy tickets exchangeable for necessities such as food or clothing.