for Pete's sake
26
9.0
- idiom
- Informal
- Watch me do it, for Pete's sake.
- Oh, for Pete's sake
- Just go for Pete's sake
- For Pete's sake, come
Examples
-
For Pete's sake, I'm not gonna say something stupid.
-
For Pete's sake, slow down!
-
Eight of you in one bathroom, for Pete's sake?
-
MAN: Hey, have a heart, for Pete's sake!
-
The next time you see a kid out here alone, stop and see if he needs help, for Pete's sake.
-
Be safe on the coast, guys, and for Pete's sake, they are telling you to stay home.
Blog text (27) -
But for Pete's sake, man, you can still tell me.
Fiction book (1990) -
Oh, for Pete's sake, you've gotta be kidding me.
-
Why don't they take out an ad, for Pete's sake?
Fiction book (1990) -
For Pete's sake, could you please stop making that noise?
Synonyms
∞
8.9
An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something
200
9.7
A strong expression showing anger, surprise, or urgency
147
8.9
A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance
66
8.2
You say this when you feel very annoyed or impatient
55
7.6
People say it to show impatience or anger
43
9.9
A very rude phrase people say to show strong anger or annoyance
42
9.9
Say it when you suddenly feel upset or annoyed about a mistake
37
7.6
Say it when you are annoyed to ask someone to do or stop something
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
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
5
8.2
A person asks angrily and urgently for someone to act now
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
An old-fashioned word people say to show disbelief or annoyance
1
9.2
A short mild word people say when they are annoyed
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
To show strong frustration and make a request sound urgent
1
9.9
A short sound people make when they are annoyed or want to show something is not important
How Annoyed
- Offensive
200
9.7
- Informal
55
7.6
- Informal
26
9.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The construction contains the somewhat transparent pattern 'for X's sake' (for + someone's sake), so a learner might recognise a literal relation to someone named Pete. However, its actual use as an interjection expressing annoyance or urgency is idiomatic and not directly inferable from the parts, so meaning is not reliably predictable. Because the pattern gives partial cues but the exclamatory force is language-specific, this is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
For Pete's sake comes from people wanting a milder way to say 'for God's sake.' One popular story says they used Pete, a common name or Saint Peter, instead of God's name so it would not offend, and that is why the phrase now shows 'annoyance' or 'impatience'.