✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

holy mackerel

idiom

informal
used to say that one is very surprised, pleased, or excited
Holy mackerel! You got your hair cut!

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Holy mackerel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holy%20mackerel. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!