holy mackerel
Exclamation of shock
Holy mackerel is an exclamation of surprise or astonishment, a mild oath that substitutes for profanity.
The phrase belongs to a family of euphemistic expressions—holy cow, holy smoke, holy moly—that let speakers express strong emotion without invoking the sacred directly: Holy mackerel, did you see that catch?
Emotional outcry word class
- outburstSudden emotional release
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
- utteranceSpoken expression aloud
- reactionResponse to stimulus
blurt · gasp · cry · yelp · expression · oh my · good grief · goodness gracious
Intense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
- incredulityInability to accept something
bewilderment · stunned · flabbergasted · gobsmacked · thunderstruck · dumbfounded · aghast · startled
Relating to humor
- campyEntertainingly artificial and overblown
- goofyAmusingly foolish or absurd
- sillyFrivolous or absurd
- cartoonishAbsurdly exaggerated in style
exaggerated · over-the-top · hammy · slapstick · corny · kitsch · parody · catchphrase
interjection
Emotional outcry word class
- outburstSudden emotional release
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
- utteranceSpoken expression aloud
reaction · blurt · gasp · cry · yelp · expression · oh my · good grief · goodness gracious · jeepers
astonishment
Intense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
incredulity · bewilderment · stunned · flabbergasted · gobsmacked · thunderstruck · dumbfounded · aghast · startled · staggered
comedic
Relating to humor
- campyEntertainingly artificial and overblown
- goofyAmusingly foolish or absurd
- sillyFrivolous or absurd
cartoonish · exaggerated · over-the-top · hammy · slapstick · corny · kitsch · parody · catchphrase · sitcom
vintage
Quality from past eras
archaic · nostalgic · bygone · old-timey · yesteryear · wholesome · innocent · corny · hokey · folksy
- exclamationsoh, yes, no, wow, hey
- fishing idiomshook line and sinker, fish out of water, the one that got away, fishing for compliments, fish or cut bait
- sea jokesfish out of water, fish story, fish tales, off the hook, catch of the day
holy mackerelholy shit
Profane expression of shock
holy fuck · goddamn · what the fuck · fucking hell · Jesus Christ
holy, mackerel, holiness, holier, holiest, unholy, hallowed, Halloween