Etymology Journal ยท H
Holy moly!
Meaning
- A very common exclamation for expressing astonishment. It is the gold standard of G-rated shock expressions.
Breezy, lighthearted
Used in a sentence
- Holy moly, look at the score on that final exam!
- Holy moly, you were not kidding when you said this house was a fixer-upper.
- Holy moly, the line for this ride is two hours long.
The backstory
Its origins are traced back to the 19th century, possibly originating as a way to rhyme moly with holy to avoid saying anything offensive. It became widely known through the Shazam comics where the character used it regularly.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check