holusbonus

Question

when and in which specific situations do you(native English speakers) say this word?Would you say "I used to drink gin tonic holus-bonus"?Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I have never heard it or read it; ergo, I have never used it.  It is not in the on-line dictionaries; what is it supposed to mean?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

holus-bolus (note the spelling)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holus-bolus

bolus (I've never heard just this one word used. Always the phrase.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolus?show=0&t=1349645888

I used to hear and say this, usually in academic circles, in England.

eg There are a lot of things scattered on your desk. You tidy up by shoving them holus-bolus into a drawer.
In other words, you just grab them up without neatly and carefully sorting them out.

eg It more often has a figurative meaning. eg He agreed with my idea holus-bolus, ie without carefully grasping and considering all the details.

Would you say "I used to drink gin and tonic holus-bonus"? No. Although maybe after 10, I would.

Clive

holusbonus

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