holy terror

Idioms  

1. An exasperating individual, as in He was only five, but he was a holy terror, running wild through the house and throwing whatever he could lay his hands on. The adjective holy here is an intensifier. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

A former Olympic hammer thrower, the Crunchem Hall headmistress is described as “a gigantic holy terror, a fierce tyrannical monster who frightened the life out of the pupils and teachers alike.”

From Los Angeles Times

In the wind, it can be a holy terror.

From Seattle Times

"She was a demon. As soon as my father was out of the way she became a holy terror. My life was a nightmare."

From Literature

It was as if she had invoked the protection of a monotheistic faith against a holy terror that seemed to emanate out of an older world of pagan worship.

From New York Times

A big one is the holy terror waiting in the wings.

From New York Times