holus-bolus

[ hoh-luh s-boh-luh s ]
/ ˈhoʊ ləsˈboʊ ləs /

adverb

all at once; altogether.

Origin of holus-bolus

1840–50; mock-Latin rhyming compound based on phrase whole bolus. See whole, bolus

Words nearby holus-bolus

holster, holston, holt, holter monitor, holthouse's hernia, holus-bolus, holy, holy alliance, holy ark, holy bible, holy bread

Example sentences from the Web for holus-bolus

  • Holus-bolus, 'sicut examen apum,' ye decamp at the word of a single foe!

    The Day of Wrath |Maurus Jkai

  • There was a first-class carr'ge door opin right forninst me, an' into that the gyard crams me holus-bolus.

    Martin Hewitt, Investigator |Arthur Morrison

  • They had just killed the animal, and were roasting it whole, holus-bolus, unskinned and undressed.

    Spinifex and Sand |David W Carnegie

British Dictionary definitions for holus-bolus

holus-bolus
/ (ˈhəʊləsˈbəʊləs) /

adverb

informal all at once

Word Origin for holus-bolus

C19: pseudo-Latin based on whole bolus; see bolus