# holy moley

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/holy-moley
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of wow, an expression of surprise.

## Examples

- Holy moley, that is a huge spider.
- Holy moley, I cannot believe you actually won the lottery after buying just one ticket.
- Holy moley, the sheer scale of the mountain range took my breath away as we emerged from the tunnel.

## Origin

A euphemism for Holy Mary, the term employs Molly as a nickname for Mary. Its structure invites comparison to the similar exclamation holy Moses.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.