holy smoke

American  

[hoh-lee smohk] / ˈhoʊ li ˈsmoʊk /

Also holy smokes

interjection

Slang.

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

---

Etymology

Origin of holy smoke

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Frankincense persists in the holy smoke of churches, wafting from filigreed brass burners that priests swing on long chains as they stalk the pews.

From New York Times • May 10, 2021

Then all of a suddin I remembered some things about the operashun and me getting smart and I said holy smoke I reely pulled a Charlie Gordon that time.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

By the holy smoke," he said, "I'm in luck, Sam!

From The Torch and Other Tales by Phillpotts, Eden

She never loved me since I went with thee To sacrifice among the hills: she smelt The holy smoke, and could no more divine Till the new moon.

From Poems by Jean Ingelow, In Two Volumes, Volume II. by Ingelow, Jean

It's the scratch all right," said the Very Young Man, as they stopped near the brink of the precipice, "but, holy smoke!

From The Girl in the Golden Atom by Cummings, Ray