for mercy's sake - Glite Dictionary

Examples

- For mercy's sake, what is it?

Fury (1936)
I can't believe you forgot my birthday, for mercy's sake!
For mercy's sake, just tell me the truth already!

Synonyms

for Christ's sake

vsfor mercy's sake

Offensive

62 9.2

A strong word that shows annoyance and makes a request urgent

is similar but acts more as an urgent plea or complaint

for heaven's sake

vsfor mercy's sake

Informal

45 7.6

People say it to show impatience or anger

is more of an urgent plea with sharper exasperation

for fuck's sake

vsfor mercy's sake

Offensive

33 9.9

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

is milder and more of a general urgent plea without extreme vulgarity

for crying out loud

vsfor mercy's sake

Informal

31 8.2

You say this when you feel very annoyed or impatient

is similar but leans more toward a pleading urgent request

for Pete's sake

vsfor mercy's sake

Informal

21 9.0

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

is more pleading and expresses greater urgency or exasperation

for goodness' sake

vsfor mercy's sake

Informal

10 7.6

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

is more urgent and pleads with stronger exasperation or impatience

for chrissakes

vsfor mercy's sake

Offensive

9 9.9

To show strong frustration and make a request sound urgent

is less informal and can be used as a closer urgent plea

for pity's sake

vsfor mercy's sake

Informal

2 8.2

A person asks angrily and urgently for someone to act now

is harsher and more pleading rather than gently exasperated

for the love of Mike

vsfor mercy's sake

UK

1 9.9

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

is stronger and more urgent, often pleading rather than merely annoyed

for the love of Christ

vsfor mercy's sake

Offensive

9.7

A strong spoken request or cry that shows shock and anger

is less intense and fits general urgent pleas rather than strong oaths

Antonyms

calmly

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

How Urgent

to beg

417 1.0

for mercy's sake

Informal

9.3

for heaven's sake

Informal

45 7.6

come on

Informal

∞ 5.4

please

1.0

Surface Forms

for mercy's sake main

Morphology

for + mercy's + sake

The components 'for' + 'mercy' + 'sake' transparently suggest an appeal to compassion or a plea ('for the sake of mercy'), so a learner who knows the words can infer a pleading/exclamatory force. However, its conventionalized pragmatic use as a general expression of exasperation or urgency (rather than a literal appeal to mercy) is idiomatic and requires exposure, making the phrase only partially predictable.

Etymology

For mercy's sake likely comes from people literally begging for mercy, a clear image of someone kneeling and asking another to 'show pity' in a desperate moment. So today we use it as a strong request or to show we are very annoyed, meaning 'please' or 'for goodness' sake'.