holus-bolus en · ADV
Etymology
Reduplication; further etymology unknown. Possibly of Ancient Greek origin, from ὅλος (hólos, “whole”) and βόλος (bólos, “a throw with a casting net”) or βῶλος (bôlos, “lump”). Alternatively, a pseudo-Latinism derived from a reduplication of bolus with whole. Compare similar pseudo-Latin reduplications such as hocus-pocus and omnium-gatherum.
Meanings
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(not-comparable) All together; entirely; without modification.
I’ll take it on my shoulders, holus bolus, blame and shame, my boy; but stay here, I cannot let you. Jump! One jump, and you’re out, and we’ll run for it like antelopes.
1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:to accept a story holus-bolus.
Translations (6)
es completamente (all together, unmodified) · pl naraz (all together, unmodified) · it in toto (all together, unmodified) · bg наведнъж (all together, unmodified) · cs vcelku (all together, unmodified) · es totalmente (all together, unmodified)