Holy cow (expression)
Encyclopedia
"Holy cow!" is an exclamation
of surprise
used mostly in American
and Canadian English
.
From the Dictionary of American Slang (1960):
Paul Beale (1985), however, in revising Eric Partridge
's A Dictionary of Catch Phrases: British and American, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day cites a different origin:
"Holy cow" was the catchphrase of Yankees
shortstop and broadcaster
Phil Rizzuto
. The phrase was so popular with "Scooter," as Rizzuto is often called, that when the Yankees honored him decades after he retired, they actually had a real cow with a halo
prop on its head. Amusingly enough to all including Rizzuto, Scooter wound up tripping over the cow. Harry Caray
, who was the broadcaster for the Cardinals
(1945-1969), Athletics
(1970), White Sox
(1971-1981), and Cubs
(1982-1997), also used the phrase, as did 1950s Braves broadcaster Earl Gillespie
.
The phrase may have originated with (and certainly was introduced to the baseball lexicon by) reporter and broadcaster Halsey Hall
, who worked in Minneapolis
from 1919 until his death in 1977. According to Paul Dickson
, New Orleans radio announcer Jack Holiday also used the phrase on broadcasts of the minor-league New Orleans Pelicans
in the 1930s.
The cartoon strip Common Grounds
was originally titled Holey Crullers, a play on this catchphrase.
Exclamation
Exclamation may refer to:* Exclamation mark, the punctuation mark "!"* Exclamation, an emphatic sentence* Exclamation, an emphatic interjection* Exclamation, a statement against penal interest in criminal law* Exclamation, a fragrance by Coty, Inc....
of surprise
Surprise (emotion)
Surprise is a brief emotional state experienced as the result of an unexpected event. Surprise can have any valence; that is, it can be neutral/moderate, pleasant, or unpleasant. If a person experiences a very powerful or long lasting surprise, it may be considered shock.-Reality...
used mostly in American
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
and Canadian English
Canadian English
Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language...
.
From the Dictionary of American Slang (1960):
Paul Beale (1985), however, in revising Eric Partridge
Eric Partridge
Eric Honeywood Partridge was a New Zealand/British lexicographer of the English language, particularly of its slang. His writing career was interrupted only by his service in the Army Education Corps and the RAF correspondence department during World War II...
's A Dictionary of Catch Phrases: British and American, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day cites a different origin:
"Holy cow" was the catchphrase of Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
shortstop and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
Phil Rizzuto
Phil Rizzuto
Philip Francis Rizzuto , nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
. The phrase was so popular with "Scooter," as Rizzuto is often called, that when the Yankees honored him decades after he retired, they actually had a real cow with a halo
Halo (religious iconography)
A halo is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art. They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures, and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes...
prop on its head. Amusingly enough to all including Rizzuto, Scooter wound up tripping over the cow. Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
, who was the broadcaster for the Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1945-1969), Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1970), White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1971-1981), and Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1982-1997), also used the phrase, as did 1950s Braves broadcaster Earl Gillespie
Earl Gillespie
Earl W. Gillespie was an American sportscaster, best known as the radio voice of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Braves from 1953 to 1963....
.
The phrase may have originated with (and certainly was introduced to the baseball lexicon by) reporter and broadcaster Halsey Hall
Halsey Hall
Halsey Hall was a sports reporter and announcer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area from the 1920s to 1970s....
, who worked in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
from 1919 until his death in 1977. According to Paul Dickson
Paul Dickson
For the football player of the same name see Paul Dickson .Paul Dickson is a freelance writer of more than 50 non-fiction books, mostly on American English language and popular culture. He has written many articles on a wide variety of subjects...
, New Orleans radio announcer Jack Holiday also used the phrase on broadcasts of the minor-league New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans were a Minor league professional baseball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Team history:Founded in 1887, the Pelicans became part of the Southern Association in 1901...
in the 1930s.
The cartoon strip Common Grounds
Common Grounds
Common Grounds is a six-issue comic book limited series created by writer Troy Hickman and published by Top Cow Productions in 2004. The series examined the life of superheroes and villains in and around a chain of coffee shops called Common Grounds....
was originally titled Holey Crullers, a play on this catchphrase.