holy smoke

Also ho·ly smokes

[hoh-lee smohk]

interjection

Slang.

1. (used as an exclamation to express surprise or astonishment.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of holy smoke¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

“It was like, ‘Holy smoke, this stuff actually works,’” Sharpless said.

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“Holy smoke, look at the skipper’s mouth!”

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“I said, ‘Holy smoke!’” he recalled.

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Since “The Piano,” Campion has continued to make stirring, challenging work, including the Henry James adaptation “The Portrait of a Lady,” the willfully flaky “Holy Smoke!,” the controversial erotic thriller “In the Cut” and the poetic romance “Bright Star.”

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Here's a helicopter in the 1960s sitting in the grass, and I'm looking at it like, "Holy smoke, what is this?"

Read more on Salon