Origins: Earliest traced American use in 1905 in a newspaper in the state of Minnesota. Commonly used by American baseball players as early as 1913. They used “Holy cow!” in place of obscene words in order to avoid penalties during the game.
What is the meaning of Holy cow?
express surprise or excitement
Definition of holy cow
informal. —used as an interjection to express surprise or excitement Holy cow! That car almost ran into us!
Is it OK to say Holy cow?
“Holy cow” is what’s known as a “minced oath.” It’s when you substitute a kind of maybe similar-ish-sounding word for a taboo word. That’s why we have “frickin” and “dang it” and “shizz.” In this case, “cow” is probably a stand-in for “Christ” so the speaker wouldn’t take the Lord’s name in vain.
Where did the word Holy cow come from?
The phrase “Holy cow!” was used by baseball players at least as early as 1913 and probably much earlier. It became associated with several American baseball broadcasters. The phrase may have originated with reporter and broadcaster Halsey Hall who worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1919 until his death in 1977.
What can I say instead of Holy Cow?
Here are some similar phrases which can be used instead of “Holy Cow”.
- Holy smoke.
- Holy mackerel.
- Holy Moses.
- Holy cat.
- Holy Molly (euphemism for “Holy Mary”, Molly being a nickname for Mary)
Why is cow holy in Hinduism?
Hindus do not consider the cow to be a god and they do not worship it. Hindus, however, are vegetarians and they consider the cow to be a sacred symbol of life that should be protected and revered. In the Vedas, the oldest of the Hindu scriptures, the cow is associated with Aditi, the mother of all the gods.
What does Holy Crow mean?
Holy crow definition, Holy crow meaning | English dictionary informal a person who is an active gambler, womanizer, etc.
Where are cows holy?
Today, in heavily Hindu nations like India and Nepal, milk continues to hold a central place in religious rituals. And in honor of their exalted status, cows often roam free. Indeed, in some places, it is considered good luck to give one a snack, a bit of bread, or fruit before breakfast.
What is the meaning of holy smokes?
very surprised, pleased
Definition of holy smoke
informal. —used to say that one is very surprised, pleased, or excited Holy smoke! You got your hair cut!
How did cow become sacred in India?
In the Hindu religion, the cow has acquired a sacred status. It used to be sacrificed like other animals and offered to the gods and its meat was eaten. The cow was gradually incorporated into a religious ritual and itself became sacred and an object of veneration from the 4th century BCE.
Is cow sacred in India?
It is also a sacred animal for the majority Hindu community, and they amble unmolested in traffic-choked streets. The animal is worshipped and decorated during festivals; holy men take around cows, with their foreheads smeared in vermillion, to seek alms.
Is eating beef a sin in Hinduism?
Manusmriti (Chapter 5 / Verse 30) says, “It is not sinful to eat the meat of eatable animals, for Brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables.” Where the concern of eating beef really belongs is its effect on the human spirit and whether or not eating beef is considered sinful.
What does the phrase Holy mackerel mean?
very surprised, pleased
Definition of holy mackerel
—used to say that one is very surprised, pleased, or excited Holy mackerel! You got your hair cut!
Can Hindus eat pork?
Diet of non-vegetarian Hindus can include fish, poultry and red meat (mainly lamb, goat but also beef, and pork) in addition to eggs and dairy products.
Why do Hindus not eat meat?
Most Hindus are vegetarian. The cow is viewed as a sacred animal so even meat-eating Hindus may not eat beef.
Can Hindus drink milk?
He is lovingly called “Makhan chor,” or butter thief. Hindus use milk and its products for religious purposes because it is believed to have purifying qualities.
What does Holy Moly come from?
Holy Moly (also spelled Holy Moley) is an exclamation of surprise that dates from at least 1892. It is most likely a minced oath, a cleaned-up version of a taboo phrase such as “Holy Moses”.
Where did the term Holy buckets come from?
It was first popularized by the “Corliss Archer” series of short stories, television programs, and movies, which attempted to show the humorous, homey side of teenage life. ‘ Expressions such as ‘Holy buckets! ‘, ‘Holy underwear! ‘, etc., also employ a play-on-words, ‘holy’ implying ‘riddled with holes’.
Is Holy smokes a swear word?
Definitions include: a term used in lieu of a profanity. Definitions include: a general exclamation (of surprise, disbelief, excitement, displeasure, etc.)
Why do Indians touch feet?
Touching the feet of elders to seek their blessings is one of the nicer traditions in Hinduism. Some other communities practice it too, though to a lesser extent. Of course, you rarely touch the feet, it’s more the movement of bending-bowing to show your respect. It is more prevalent in northern and central India.
Can Hindus drink alcohol?
Hinduism. Hinduism does not have a central authority which is followed by all Hindus, though religious texts forbid the use or consumption of alcohol.
