Etymology Journal ยท H
Holy smokes!
Meaning
- An exclamation of surprise or mild alarm. It is used when something catches you off guard but you want to keep the tone conversational and safe.
Energetic, friendly
Used in a sentence
- Holy smokes, you look great in that suit!
- Holy smokes, I nearly dropped my phone in the lake.
- Holy smokes, check out how fast that car is moving.
The backstory
Like many others in this category, it was a way to use the word holy without being blasphemous. It gained traction in the early 20th century as a playful exclamation.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check