holy cow

interjection

An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

Similar
wow
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Meanings

interjection
  1. euphemisticidiomaticminced oathAn exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

    Holy cow I think he's gonna make it!

    1977, Jim Steinman, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, in Bat Out of Hell, performed by Meat Loaf ft. Phil Rizzuto

    Synonyms: wow

Synonyms & antonyms

interjectionAn exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

Similar
wow
Also see
holy cannoliholy smokestone the crowswow

Origin

Minced oath for holy shit, possibly partially based on the fact that cows are sacred in some religions (e.g. Hinduism).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French la vache
  • la vacheinterjection
Polish jasna cholera
  • jasna cholerainterjection
Spanish dios santo / mío, cielos
  • dios santo / míointerjection
  • cielosinterjection
  • ave María [Purísima]interjection
  • asu madre / machointerjection
Cite this entry
APA

holy cow. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/holy%20cow

MLA

“holy cow.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/holy%20cow. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “holy cow,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/holy%20cow.

Source: holy cow on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.