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!
Why do you say Holy Mackerel?
Etymology. Recorded from 1803 with uncertain origin, but possibly a euphemism for Holy Mary, with Mackerel being a nickname for Catholics because they ate the fish on Fridays.
What is Mackerel slang for?
The word mackerel, now largely out of use, has meant prostitute, madam and pimp. That last meaning lives on in the variation mack daddy, a word that can also mean a ladies’ man. The fishy term has had many other variations. In the sixteenth century, a pimp’s services were called mackerelage.
Is Holy Mackerel an idiom?
An exclamation of surprise, shock, or astonishment. Holy mackerel, the bill for that dinner was nearly $200!
Where did the phrase Holy smokes come from?
The expression, as a exclamation, dates from the latter part of the nineteenth century. The first reference in the Oxford English Dictionary is in a book by Rudyard Kipling and his American agent Charles Balestier, The Naulahka, published in 1892.
Who says Holy Mackerel?
As an illustration, ″Holy mackerel!″ That’s a significant catch. In spite of the fact that most people now identify this name with the character Robin from the 1960s television show Batman, it was first used by a far more contentious pop culture icon: George ″Kingfish″ Stevens.
Who came up with Holy Mackerel?
Holy Mackerel was almost certainly a reference to Catholics eating fish on Fridays (rather like Holy Cow is a reference to Hindus, and Holy Smoke is a jibe at incense burning and funeral pyres; also Holy Moses – shortened to the rhyming Holy Moley or Holy Moly – the way that the words trip of the tongue is very
Where did Holy mackerel Andy come from?
Where did the expression Holy Mackerel Andy come from? With an unclear origin, but likely a euphemism for Holy Mary, Mackerel is a nickname for Catholics since they ate the fish on Fridays, according to historical records dating back to 1803.
What is Holy moly?
surprise, amazement
Definition of holy moly
—used to express surprise, amazement, or bewilderment Nate Tyler was finishing off his salmon dinner at a restaurant in Sydney last spring when suddenly the lights went out. The eatery went dark, along with much of downtown, including the city’s famous opera house. “
What does Holy Macaroni mean?
An expression of surprise
(idiomatic, humorous or euphemistic) An expression of surprise.
What is the holiest fish?
halibut
The word halibut actually means ‘holy fish’. It was also known as the fish of the gods, and qualities such as wisdom and strength were attributed to it.
What is the meaning of holy Toledo?
Interjection. holy Toledo! An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.
Is Holy cow a swear word?
“Holy cow” is a milder expression with the same meaning, but because it does not contain a vulgarity, it is appropriate to use in situations where profanity is unacceptable. There are many other words that can be used with “holy” for the same purpose, all substituting for vulgar or religious terms.
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.)
Is it okay to say Holy smokes?
Definition of holy smoke
—used to say that one is very surprised, pleased, or excited Holy smoke! You got your hair cut!
Why do we say holy cow?
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 does Robin always say to Batman?
Robin of the Batman TV series is noted for his many catchphrase “Holy…” exclamations. The lines in the 1960s TV series were uttered by Burt Ward who played Robin, who delivered the exclamations in a nasal voice.
What does the Holy Mackerel do in tf2?
The Holy Mackerel functions identically to the default Bat. However, every successful hit by the weapon on another player is announced in the kill feed, showing the weapon’s icon in addition to the number of times the victim has been slapped recently.
What means cut the mustard?
To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.
Is that a euphemism meaning?
Definition of euphemism
: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant also : the expression so substituted.
What happened to Amos and Andy Show?
Not long after the TV series began to air, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) launched a protest of the Amos ‘n’ Andy Show, criticizing its negative stereotypes of African Americans. CBS finally canceled the show in 1953, though the show remained in syndication until the mid-1960s.
