cow (redirected from cowy)

a cash cow

a business or a part of a business that always makes a lot of profit. The British newspapers are the group's biggest cash cow, earning nearly 40% of group profits.

See also: cash

have a cow (American)

to be very worried, upset, or angry about something. I thought he was going to have a cow when I told him I'd lost his key.

a sacred cow

a belief or system that is treated with much respect and is not usually criticized. The British legal system remains a sacred cow, despite increasing evidence that serious mistakes have been made.

until the cows come home

for a very long time. We could talk about this problem until the cows come home, but it wouldn't solve anything.

See also: come, home, until

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have a cow

to be very worried, upset, or angry about something. The record companies were having a cow over downloadable music files.

Usage notes: the opposite meaning is expressed by don't have a cow: Don't have a cow, Mom, I'll clean up my room.

holy cow

1. what a surprise. “I was paying 23 percent interest on that credit card.” “Holy cow!”

2. how wonderful. "A friend of mine is in Hollywood filming a movie this month." "Holy cow, that must be so cool."

See also: holy

until the cows come home

for a very long time. You can diet until the cows come home, and you still won't be a size 4.

See also: come, home, until