Emily from New Orleans, Louisiana, wonders about the expression Holy cow! to indicate surprise or delight. The phrase is a minced oath, a milder substitute for the stronger exclamation Holy Christ!, much like Holy Moses! or Holy smokes! Such...
Part and parcel, indicating an integral component, is one of many legal doublets in English consisting of two words that mean essentially the same thing. Others include law and order, cease and desist, will and testament, sole and exclusive. There...