Used trivially. used with a following word as an oath or expletive, as holy cow! int., holy Moses! int., holy smoke! int., holy mackerel! int.

colloquial. Dreadful, awful, terrible. Frequently as an intensifier, expressing anger, frustration, dislike, etc. Cf. Christless, adj. 2.

colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). Dreadful, awful, terrible. Frequently as an intensifier, expressing anger, annoyance, dislike, etc. Cf. Chr…