holy f*ck!

Ret's Word of the Day
A happy Mosotho man in a library, wearing a Basotho blanket and holding a book in his hand.
/ˈhəʊli fʌk/
[ HOH-lee fuhk ]
🔊 Hear it on YouGlish

Definition

The meaning: Holy f*ck is a vulgar slang exclamation expressing shock, awe, amazement, or strong emotion — whether positive or negative.

La signification: L’expression holy f*ck est une interjection très familière et vulgaire utilisée pour exprimer une forte réaction émotionnelle, comme la surprise, l’admiration, ou l’incrédulité. Par exemple, si quelqu’un voit quelque chose d’étonnant ou choquant, il peut dire "Holy f*ck!" pour marquer sa réaction.

Note: Cette expression est à réserver aux contextes informels entre amis proches, ou dans les dialogues de films ou séries.

Word Analysis

French equivalents
» Putain de merde !
» Nom de Dieu !
» Bordel !
» Tabarnak !

A: Regarde la taille de ce serpent !
B: Holy f*ck, c’est énorme !

English equivalents
» Holy crap!
» Oh my God!
» What the hell!
» Bloody hell!

A: That car just flipped over twice!
B: Holy f*ck — are they okay?!
    

Dialogue

Riley: "Did you just see that lightning hit the tree?"
Skye: "Holy f*ck! That was insane!"
    

Etymology

Origin: The phrase combines the intensifier "holy" (used in many exclamations) with a strong vulgar noun. It likely emerged in the mid-20th century in American English, mirroring similar phrases like "holy cow" or "holy shit", but with a much more intense and explicit tone.

Audience

The expression "holy f*ck" is highly informal and vulgar. It appears often in casual speech, movies, music lyrics, or social media — but is not suitable for formal or professional situations.

When to use: Use it only in contexts where strong language is accepted and won’t offend. For example: "Holy f*ck, that was the best concert I’ve ever seen!"

Dictionary Meaning

The Free Dictionary says that it is rude slang and is "An exclamation, typically of surprise, dismay, or anger." Here's a provided example of use:
"Are you all right? Holy f*ck, we could have been killed in that accident!"

News Snippet

"A group of us, eight, were invited to Tuynhuys at 5 am on 2 February 1990. We were brought up to speed. I remember saying: ‘Holy f*ck, he’s gone the whole way. He’s even unbanned the commies’,” said a Parliamentary Press Gallery veteran. “He’s had a good showing in the afternoon papers."

Read the full article at the Daily Maverick

Extra! Extra!

For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, watch the following…

Video Lesson One

Video Lesson Two

WordReference

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» Synonyms⇄Antonyms–Contextual variations, etc.

Common Idioms & Expressions Related to "Holy F*ck"

Holy F*ck
An exclamation used to express shock, surprise, amazement, or disbelief — often very strong and very informal.

Example: "Holy f*ck, did you see the size of that wave?"



Holy Cow
A milder and more polite version of “holy f*ck,” used to show surprise or amazement.

Example: "Holy cow, that was an incredible performance!"



Holy Crap
Another softer exclamation used instead of stronger language to show astonishment or dismay.

Example: "Holy crap, I totally forgot the deadline!"



Oh My God
A very common exclamation expressing shock, disbelief, or strong emotion.

Example: "Oh my God, that’s unbelievable!"



What the Hell
Used when surprised, confused, or annoyed by something unexpected.

Example: "What the hell just happened?"



Bloody Hell
A British expression of shock, anger, or disbelief — stronger than “what the hell” but still milder than “holy f*ck”.

Example: "Bloody hell, that scared me!"



No Way!
An informal and often enthusiastic way to express surprise or disbelief.

Example: "No way! You actually met the band?"



Holy Smokes
A playful or old-fashioned alternative used to express mild surprise or excitement.

Example: "Holy smokes, that was close!"



Whoa1
A simple exclamation often used to express astonishment or admiration.

Example: "Whoa, that was insane!"



Holy Mackerel
Used to say that one is very surprised, pleased, or excited.

Example: "Holy mackerel… did you see how Mike Tyson knocked that that guy out!"



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