for pity's sake
2
8.2
- idiom
- Informal
:
por el amor de Dios
- "Why, for pity's sake?" I could not keep the exasperation out of my voice.
- Oh, for pity's sake
Examples
-
"Oh, for pity's sake," Betty said.
Fiction book (1995) -
I mean, for pity's sake, she was dying.
Fiction book (1995) -
It's Sunday morning, for pity's sake.
-
Good Uncle... for pity's sake!
-
What did he know of it, for pity's sake?
Fiction book (2000) -
Here, for pity's sake, give me the phone.
Fiction book (1999) -
For pity's sake, go now.
-
Oh, for pity's sake, quit the whining and crying already.
Blog text (29) -
"Oh, for pity's sake, Ariel, don't be cheerful."
Fiction book (1997) -
For pity's sake, can you just listen to me for once?
Synonyms
65
9.7
A strong expression showing anger, surprise, or urgency
45
7.6
People say it to show impatience or anger
33
9.9
A very rude phrase people say to show strong anger or annoyance
31
8.2
You say this when you feel very annoyed or impatient
24
9.9
Say it to show strong anger, frustration, or urgency, and it is rude
21
9.0
Shows someone is annoyed, impatient, or in a hurry when spoken
17
8.4
A short phrase people say when they feel frustrated or disappointed
10
7.6
Say it when you are annoyed to ask someone to do or stop something
9
9.9
To show strong frustration and make a request sound urgent
1
9.9
Words people say when they are very annoyed or want something done quickly
To ask or beg strongly when you are upset
A strong spoken request or cry that shows shock and anger
How Annoyed
- Offensive
65
9.7
- Informal
2
8.2
- Informal
10
7.6
- Informal
∞
5.4
321
6.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The construction follows the familiar 'for X's sake' pattern and the lexical item 'pity' (compassion) plausibly signals an appeal or plea, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer a request or urgent plea. However, its conventional pragmatic force as an exclamation of exasperation or urgency is idiomatic and based on usage patterns rather than purely compositional meaning, so the connection is only partially predictable.
Etymology
The phrase for pity's sake may come from old requests asking someone to show pity, meaning kindness or help. That strong plea became a short way to complain or beg, so today we use it to show 'annoyance' or 'urgency'.