Where did the term "holy cow" come from?

There was a time when a large population of people worshipped cows. Some people still do even now in the Hindu religion.

Here is the spectrum,

OFFENSIVE////////////////////|\\\\\\\Not OFFENSIVE
_________________________________________________________

"crap", being in the middle which would be the substitute for "shit" in the explitive "holy shit" which would be on the far left. I suppose the rule comes in triples and the third "unoffensive" would be the substitute "cow" forming the phrase "holy crap".

Of course, you can counter-act this by saying "holy f***ing cow" and the rule does not apply.

Yeah, the cow is "sacred" in India, another word for sacred is holy, therefore, I agree with other posters. My husband's friend Jamie always says "Holy Cow" and it has become a joke with us.

Everytime I go to an Indian restaurant, there is never any beef on the buffet. Plenty of chicken, lamb and vegetables... no cow.

I'm guessing it has something to do with the Hindi in India since they hold the cow sacred.

As Baccuss.

Hindus believe cow as Holy... so christian believe cross as holy so we can say bull shit cross!

The term "sacred cow" has been used in English since the early days of the British Raj to refer to anything that's treated as sacred and/or "off-limits" which should not be. The idea derived from the British attitude that the Hindu attitude towards cows was ridiculous.

"Holy Cow!" however, though inspired/suggested by the term "sacred cow", began as a euphemism, be it as an expletive or oath. It was essentially substituting for "Holy shit!", "Holy Moses!", "Holy Mother of God!" and the like. It belongs to the same family of expressions as "Dang!", "Dang it!", "Dang nab it!", "Darn!", "Cripes!", "Geez!", "Sheez!", "Crimaney!", "Baloney!", "Jimminy-Crismus!", etc.

It must've been "uttered" when someone first saw this....

I'm Indian I was wondering why Americans say it... maybe the thing about for the Hindus having the cows holy... but I was also reading the Bible and there was this part whe Moses went up to get the ten commandments and when he came down the people were praying and dancing before a statue of a golden cow.. mybe im over analyzing it lol.

Hindus believe that cows are a holy animal hense the saying.

Cows from heaven?

Religious Cows.

India i would think:-)

It is a term that is derived from the Hindu religion wherein Cattle are sacred.

While many westerners use the term today as a replacement for vulgarity, the origin in an attempt at belittling the Hindu faith.