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for chrissake

for chrissake

24 9.9
Say it to show strong anger, frustration, or urgency, and it is rude
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : por el amor de Dios
  • These people are dying, for chrissake!
  • Oh, for chrissake
  • fucking for chrissake
  • For chrissake, just

Examples

  • I thought you were the phone police for Chrissake!

    Fiction book (1995)
  • These are people's lives, for chrissake.

  • I mean, what do you think you are, for chrissake?

  • It's my hospital, for chrissake.

  • And how do they explain your status to the client, for Chrissake?

    Fiction book (1993)
  • "You already did the most you could do for chrissake."

    Fiction book (2001)
  • "Hey, could you please for Chrissake shut up?"

    Fiction book (2002)
  • You're a secretary, for chrissake.

  • For chrissake, Vince, this is America.

  • Just let me launch one, for chrissake!

Synonyms

for Christ's sake
vsfor chrissake
  • Offensive
62 9.2

A strong word that shows annoyance and makes a request urgent

is the informal, contracted version used more casually and bluntly
for heaven's sake
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
45 7.6

People say it to show impatience or anger

is cruder and used when the speaker is more irritated
for fuck's sake
vsfor chrissake
  • Offensive
33 9.9

A very rude phrase people say to show strong anger or annoyance

is similarly strong but less vulgar and more socially acceptable
for crying out loud
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
31 8.2

You say this when you feel very annoyed or impatient

is comparable but often expressed more sharply or angrily
for Pete's sake
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
21 9.0

Shows someone is annoyed, impatient, or in a hurry when spoken

is rougher and more likely to sound harsher or blunt
darn it
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
17 8.4

A short phrase people say when they feel frustrated or disappointed

is more intense and used for stronger irritation or urgency
for goodness' sake
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
10 7.6

Say it when you are annoyed to ask someone to do or stop something

is harsher and used for stronger irritation or urgency
for chrissakes
vsfor chrissake
  • Offensive
9 9.9

To show strong frustration and make a request sound urgent

is the singular informal form used more commonly in speech
for pity's sake
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
2 8.2

A person asks angrily and urgently for someone to act now

is more forceful and less like a polite plea
in heaven's name
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
1 7.3

People say it to show surprise, anger, or a strong need for an answer

is stronger and more likely to show blunt irritation
in God's name
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
1 7.9

Words people say to show strong surprise, anger or urgency in a question

is more likely used as a blunt demand or complaint
for the love of Mike
vsfor chrissake
  • UK
1 9.9

Words people say when they are very annoyed or want something done quickly

is stronger and more direct, not a softened substitute
for the love of Christ
vsfor chrissake
  • Offensive
9.7

A strong spoken request or cry that shows shock and anger

is similar but more blunt and commonly used in anger
for mercy's sake
vsfor chrissake
  • Informal
9.3

To ask or beg strongly when you are upset

is more blunt and often used in casual irritation

Antonyms

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

How Annoyed

for Christ's sake
  • Offensive
65 9.7
for crying out loud
  • Informal
31 8.2
for chrissake
  • Offensive
24 9.9
for heaven's sake
  • Informal
45 7.6
dratted
  • Archaic
1 8.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

for + chrissake

This is an idiomatic expletive (a reduced form of 'for Christ's sake') whose force — expressing irritation, frustration or urgency — cannot be derived from the literal preposition 'for' plus the opaque token 'chrissake'. The expression relies on cultural/religious oath-taking and pragmatic emphasis rather than straightforward composition, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not reliably infer its meaning or use.

Etymology

The expression for chrissake comes from the older phrase for Christ's sake, when people called on Christ to make their words stronger. That's why today it is used to show 'irritation', 'frustration', or 'urgency'.