{"id":2071,"date":"2022-02-28T20:23:57","date_gmt":"2022-02-28T20:23:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=2071"},"modified":"2022-02-28T20:23:57","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T20:23:57","slug":"hunky-dory-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/hunky-dory-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunky Dory \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that everything is fine and they don\u2019t have to worry? If so, you could use the expression, \u201chunky dory<\/em>.\u201d This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

If someone tells you that everything is \u201chunky dory<\/em>,\u201d it means that everything is okay and going as planned to your expectations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a way of giving people confidence in you or to build their trust in you after giving you a task. For instance, your parents might go out for the evening, leaving you in charge of your younger sister. They might call to ask you how things are when they are out during the evening. You reply with \u201cHunky dory<\/em>\u201d to let them know they don\u2019t need to worry.<\/p>\n

Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cI know you\u2019re calling to find out how we are, but everything here is hunky dory<\/em>, and you have nothing to worry about. Just relax and enjoy the trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for calling in, Boss; everything\u2019s hunky dory<\/em> here right now, the lunch rush was good, and we\u2019re prepping for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything\u2019s hunky dory<\/em>, mom; I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re freaking out about; we won\u2019t get into trouble, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything here is hunky dory<\/em>; I\u2019m leaving for the day; I\u2019ll see you tomorrow for the morning shift.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me that everything was hunky dory<\/em>, and then I get here to find this mess? What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The origin of the phrase \u201chunky dory<\/em>\u201d seems to come from a Japanese term, first defined in 187 by John Russell Bartlett<\/em>. The \u201c4th edition of Dictionary of Americanisms<\/em>\u201d has an earlier spelling of the phrase, \u201chunky dory,\u201d as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201cHunkidori. Superlatively good. Said to be a word introduced by Japanese Tommy or derived from the name of a street, or bazaar, in Tokyo<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas Dilward was the stage performer with the name \u201cJapanese Tommy<\/em>.\u201d Japanese Tommy was popular in the United States in the 1860s. While his title suggested he was Japanese, he was anything but the sort.<\/p>\n

However, the most probable origin of the phrase comes from the US Navy. US Commodore, Matthew Perry<\/em>, opened trade with Japan in the 1850s. During the US visits to the land, the Americans would learn terms from the locals.<\/p>\n

The Japanese \u201choncho-Dori<\/em>\u201d means \u201cmain street<\/em>\u201d in English, and most cities have them, similar to the British \u201chigh street.\u201d<\/em> Some experts suggest sailors already knew the term \u201chunky<\/em>,\u201d adding the Japanese \u201cdori<\/em>\u201d for the road to allude to the \u201ceasy street<\/em>\u201d life they lived while traveling with the navy.<\/p>\n