Holy Mackerel

[Holly Sweet]

I've been asked to come up with a "mascot" for the campaign fund at our church. I thought a fish, the "Holy Mackerel" would be appropriate. However, I don't know where in the tar nation this term originated.

[hawthorne]

This won't get answered here Holly Sweet. I suggest you email TubaDiva and ask her to move this thread to General Questions. Welcome to the boards.

picmr

[UncleBeer]

I can move it. Off ye go, my little roe.

[bibliophage]

I would have guessed "holy Mackerel" and "holy moley" were euphemisms for "Holy Moses," but this site (http://www.shu.ac.uk/web-admin/phrases/bulletin_board/5/messages/581.html) say they predate "holy Moses" by a few years.

Some people object to these "holy" expressions because (they say) they take the Lord's name in vain. They use as evidence Revelation 15:4 which says of God, "Thou only art holy."