Holy Joe

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a chaplain, especially in the U.S. armed forces.

2. a minister or priest.

3. a sanctimonious or overly pious person.

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Holy Joe British  

noun

1. a minister or chaplain

2. any sanctimonious or self-righteous person

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Etymology

Origin of Holy Joe

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

You may be backed by Limbaugh and by all the other schlock jocks, But Holy Joe and I have this election in a lockbox.

From Washington Post

“It can sound a bit Holy Joe, but we believe football has a special place in society,” he said.

From The Guardian

The ones they've had at every school I've gone to, they all have these Holy Joe voices when they start giving their sermons.

From Literature

Red, Woolly, Punk and a saturnine-faced Texan whose addiction to unique expletives of an unconventional nature had secured for him the sobriquet of "Holy Joe."

From Project Gutenberg

“Holy Joe!” exclaimed the hobo looking up with sudden interest, “say, how long ago did he leave?”

From Project Gutenberg