for Pete's sake
21
9.0
- idiom
- Informal
:
por Dios
- 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
347
8.9
An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something
90
8.9
A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance
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
17
8.4
A short phrase people say when they feel frustrated or disappointed
15
8.4
A short angry cry people say when they feel annoyed or frustrated
14
9.9
A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked
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
2
8.2
A person asks angrily and urgently for someone to act now
2
8.7
A phrase that shows frustration or annoyance
1
9.9
People say a strong angry word when they feel very annoyed
1
9.9
Say it when you suddenly feel upset or annoyed about a mistake
1
8.6
A mild word people use to show they are annoyed about something
1
9.9
Words people say when they are very annoyed or want something done quickly
A strong spoken request or cry that shows shock and anger
To ask or beg strongly when you are upset
A short sound people make when they are annoyed or want to show something is not important
A short mild word people say when they are annoyed
An old-fashioned word people say to show disbelief or annoyance
How Annoyed
- Offensive
65
9.7
- Informal
45
7.6
- Informal
21
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'.