- A mild exclamation used to express annoyance, exasperation, frustration, impatience, or sometimes pleading.
- It is a minced oath, a euphemism used to avoid saying For God's sake or For Christ's sake.
Explanation
Origin
- Originated in the early 20th century as a substitute for potentially blasphemous phrases.
- Pete is widely thought to be a reference to Saint Peter, chosen simply as a common name starting with 'P' that could stand in for 'Christ' or perhaps due to his own human imperfections making him relatable. There's no definitive proof, but St. Peter is the common theory.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Seriously?
- Come on!
- Jeez / Sheesh
- Give me a break!
Vulgar/Emphatic (Stronger reaction):
- For fuck's sake (FFS)
- For Christ's sake
- God damn it
Milder Euphemisms:
- For goodness sake
- For heaven's sake
- Oh dear / Dear me
- Goodness me / My goodness
- For crying out loud
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Generally acceptable in casual conversation among friends, family, and sometimes colleagues.
- Milder and less likely to offend than For God's sake. Avoid in very formal settings.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might wonder who Pete is. Explain it's just a substitute name used in a common expression of mild frustration.
Examples
- For Pete's sake, where did I leave my phone now? (Mild frustration)
- Oh, for Pete's sake, would you just make a decision! (Impatience)
- Can you please turn down the music, for Pete's sake? (Pleading annoyance)
Dialogue
Alice: I think I forgot to lock the back door before we left.
Bob: Oh, for Pete's sake, Alice! Are you sure? We're already halfway there.
Alice: I'm pretty sure. We need to go back.
Bob: (Sighing) Alright, alright.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Trying to untangle these headphones... for Pete's sake! Why do they always do this? 😩 #firstworldproblems
- Facebook Comment: For Pete's sake, just use punctuation! I can barely read your post.
- Forum Post: For Pete's sake, can someone give me a straight answer to this question?
Response Patterns
- Similar to For crying out loud, but generally milder.
- If directed at someone's action: May prompt action (Okay, okay, I'm doing it!), an apology, defensiveness, or being ignored.
- If expressing general frustration: May elicit sympathy (I know the feeling), agreement, or questions (What's wrong?).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Often followed by the specific reason for exasperation or a request. (For Pete's sake, close the door behind you!)
- The speaker might sigh, shake their head, or roll their eyes.
Conversation Starter
- No. An expression of immediate reaction to something mildly annoying or frustrating.
Intonation
- Usually said with a tone of exasperation, mild irritation, or weary resignation.
- Stress often falls on PETE'S. For PETE'S sake, what is it now?
Generation Differences
- Perhaps slightly more associated with middle-aged and older generations, but widely understood by most.
- Younger people might be more inclined to use Seriously?! or Jeez.
Regional Variations
- Common in American English, also used and understood in other English-speaking regions.