holy of holies

A place of awe or sacredness, as in The corporate board room is the holy of holies here. This expression is a translation of the Hebrew term for the sanctuary inside the tabernacle of the Temple of Jerusalem, where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept (Exodus 26:34). Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1800s.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
IÚIle	-	Irish
Polyxena	-	Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Babcock	['bæbkɔk]
Ayelen	-	Native American, Mapuche
Herbie	HUR-bee	English
NesİM	-	Turkish