DisputedOrigin is disputed
holy Toledo
noun · first attested 20th century
Two cities claim it: a Spanish cathedral seat and an Ohio river port.
An exclamation of surprise or amazement.
Record
- Relationship
- Origin is disputed
- Confidence
- DisputedCompeting explanations remain live.
- Attested
- 20th century
- Part of speech
- noun
Explanations here are written for this atlas. Dictionary text is not copied; the sources are linked so the claim can be checked.
- Step 1
Toledo
- In English
holy Toledo
One account points to Toledo in Spain, long a seat of Christian and Islamic learning, which makes the adjective holy natural; another points to Toledo in Ohio, where the phrase may have started as a joke about a city with a reputation for anything but holiness. Neither has been demonstrated, and the expression spread through American radio and comics regardless.
Spain
All 20 entries 19 more words from Spain
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