holus-bolus

[hoh-luhs-boh-luhs]

adverb

1. all at once; altogether.

holus-bolus

/ ˈhəʊləsˈbəʊləs /

adverb

1. informal,  all at once

Word History and Origins

Origin of holus-bolus¹

First recorded in 1840–50; mock-Latin rhyming compound based on the phrase whole bolus, or possibly a Latinization of Greek hólos bôlos “whole lump, clod of earth, nugget”; whole, bolus

Word History and Origins

Origin of holus-bolus¹

C19: pseudo-Latin based on whole bolus; see _bolus

Example Sentences

Holus-bolus, hōl′us-bōl′us, adv. all at a gulp: altogether.—n. the whole.

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I'll take it on my shoulders, holus-bolus, blame and shame, my boy; but stay here, I cannot let you.

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Holus-bolus, 'sicut examen apum,' ye decamp at the word of a single foe!

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Each train was unloaded as it arrived and its contents thrown holus-bolus into one of the holds, except for the wheeled vehicles.

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