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A.Word.A.Day--holus-bolus

holus-bolus (HO-luhs BO-luhs) adverb

All at once.

[Apparently a reduplication of bolus (lump), or a rhyming compound based on the phrase whole bolus.]

"On the 30th anniversary of the Canadian switchover, metric enthusiast Greg Peterson, who runs the One Metre website, said the new speed signs came in largely holus-bolus. 'There was no question about it, there was no gradual phase-in period,' he said." Estanislao Oziewicz; Ireland Makes the Switch to Metric Speed Limits; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); Jan 20, 2005.

"The unions are somewhat encouraged by the fact that new public enterprises minister Alec Erwin appears to have moved back significantly from the 'policy juggernaut' of holus-bolus privatisation for Spoornet." Lynda Loxton; Spoornet is a Beast of Missed Opportunities; Business Report (Johannesburg, South Africa); Jan 17, 2005.

This week's theme: reduplicatives.

X-Bonus