for Christ's sake
200
9.7
- idiom
- Offensive
- For Christ's sake, can we just get on with the meeting?
- Oh, for Christ's sake
- for Christ's sake, get out
- for Christ's sake, now
Examples
-
For Christ's sake, look at your daughter!
-
"Someone's in there?" Dolman's expression turned suspicious, and Charlie said irritably, "For Christ's sake!"
Fiction book (1990) -
Look, angel, just fly away for Christ's sake, will you?
-
You had a yellow light, for Christ's sake.
-
Oh for Christ's sake, pay her off tomorrow.
-
"Wait a minute, for Christ's sake," the guy said, holding up his hands.
Fiction book (1994) -
Oh, for Christ's sake, what's wrong with me?
-
Nobody moves to Philadelphia for Christ's sake!
-
Ollie, just take a pill or something, for Christ's sake.
-
For Christ's sake, ref, that was bloody deliberate.
Synonyms
∞
5.4
Say it to show disbelief, irritation, or to urge someone
∞
8.9
An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something
∞
9.2
Shows strong anger, annoyance, or surprise in rude informal speech
315
9.4
A word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or concern
147
8.9
A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance
112
9.9
A short phrase people say to show surprise or confusion
100
9.9
Shows strong anger or annoyance in a rude way
66
8.2
You say this when you feel very annoyed or impatient
55
7.6
People say it to show impatience or anger
52
7.9
Words people say to show strong surprise, anger or urgency in a question
47
9.9
Adds strong anger or surprise to what you say
44
8.8
A short cry people say when they feel frustrated or annoyed
43
9.9
A very rude phrase people say to show strong anger or annoyance
37
7.6
Say it when you are annoyed to ask someone to do or stop something
35
9.6
To say when you are very surprised or shocked
35
8.7
A phrase that shows frustration or annoyance
30
8.4
A short phrase people say when they feel frustrated or disappointed
29
9.9
Say it to show strong anger, frustration, or urgency, and it is rude
29
9.4
A short informal cry showing surprise or strong feeling
26
9.0
Shows someone is annoyed, impatient, or in a hurry when spoken
23
9.9
A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked
21
8.4
A short angry cry people say when they feel annoyed or frustrated
21
9.9
People say a strong angry word when they feel very annoyed
21
9.9
A short exclamation showing surprise, annoyance, or urgency
13
9.9
A short sound people make when they feel frustrated, annoyed, or surprised
10
7.3
People say it to show surprise, anger, or a strong need for an answer
7
9.9
A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance
5
8.2
A person asks angrily and urgently for someone to act now
4
9.9
A short cry people make when they feel pain or are annoyed
3
9.7
A strong spoken request or cry that shows shock and anger
2
9.9
Words people say when they are very annoyed or want something done quickly
2
9.9
A rude phrase people say to show strong anger or frustration
1
8.6
A mild word people use to show they are annoyed about something
1
9.3
To ask or beg strongly when you are upset
1
9.9
A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance
1
9.9
An old mild word people say when they are annoyed
How Annoyed
- Offensive
200
9.7
- Informal
55
7.6
- Informal
26
9.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
for + Christ's + sake
The phrase uses the familiar pattern 'for X's sake' but its function as an emphatic expletive expressing annoyance or urgency is not the literal 'for the benefit of Christ' that a learner would predict from the constituents. Because many languages use similar religious exclamations (e.g. 'por el amor de Dios'), the construction gives a clue, so the expression is partially but not fully predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
For Christ's sake began as a short prayer: people would call on Christ when they needed help or felt shocked. Because it was a strong, urgent plea, it became an angry or surprised exclamation, which is why people now use it to show 'frustration' or 'urgency'.