Etymology Journal ยท H
Holy Hannah!
Meaning
- An exclamation used to express genuine surprise or disbelief. It functions just like any other holy-phrase but sounds a bit more old-fashioned and folksy.
Vintage, quaint
Used in a sentence
- Holy Hannah, it is cold enough to freeze the tail off a brass monkey out there.
- Holy Hannah, I cannot believe you remembered my birthday after all these years.
- Holy Hannah, those are some expensive shoes you are looking at.
The backstory
This dates back to the early 20th century and was a popular way to avoid profanity. It might be a reference to Hannah in the Bible, or just a random name chosen for its sound.
Heard in
Midwest, New England
Vibe check