holy smoke

[ 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.

From Washington Post

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

From Literature

“I said, ‘Holy smoke!’” he recalled.

From New York Times

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.”

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon