holy cow
Mild surprise outburst
Holy cow is an exclamation of surprise, amazement, or disbelief: Holy cow, did you see that catch?
It functions as a mild oath—a safe substitute for expressions invoking holier names.
The phrase has an old-fashioned, wholesome quality, associated with sportscasters and characters who avoid profanity.
Cry of amazement
- goshTame exclamation of surprise
- gollyGentle exclamation of surprise
- geeMild exclamation of surprise
- jeezMild expletive of frustration
yikes · whoa · crikey · blimey · goodness · heavens · egad · zounds
Overwhelming surprise and wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- incredulityInability to accept something
wonderment · startled · flabbergasted · dumbfounded · gobsmacked · thunderstruck · speechless · astounded
Suitable for all ages
- clean languageSpeech free of profanity
- polite expressionCourteous phrase
- jeepers creepersDated exclamation of surprise
- gee whizMild exclamation of wonder
son of a gun · fudge · shoot · dang · doggone
wow
Cry of amazement
jeez · yikes · whoa · crikey · blimey · goodness · heavens · egad · zounds · lordy
amazement
Overwhelming surprise and wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
incredulity · wonderment · startled · flabbergasted · dumbfounded · gobsmacked · thunderstruck · speechless · astounded · taken aback
family-friendly
Suitable for all ages
- clean languageSpeech free of profanity
- polite expressionCourteous phrase
- jeepers creepersDated exclamation of surprise
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- minced oathsdarn, heck, gosh, shoot, dang
- exclamationsoh, yes, no, wow, hey
- expressions of awewow, whoa, amazing, awesome, incredible
- disbeliefdisbelief, no way, incredulity, unbelievable, yeah right
- fear reactionsscream, scared, gasp, terrified, flinch
holy cowholy shit
Profane expression of shock
holy fuck · what the fuck · goddamn · fucking hell · son of a bitch
cow, holy, cows, holiness, cowing, holistic, holiest, holier, cowhide