for Pete's sake

interjection

Used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.

“For Pete's sake, get off the computer! You've been on there for ages!”

Similar
FFSfor Christ's sakefor cripes' sakefor crying in the beerfor crying out loudfor fucking out loudfor fuck's sakefor God's sake
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Meanings

interjectionfor Pete's sake!
  1. minced oathUsed to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.

    For Pete's sake, get off the computer! You've been on there for ages!

    1 more example

    “For Pete's sake, don't look so critical!” objected the emanation pleasantly.

    1920 September, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, “Head and Shoulders”, in Flappers and Philosophers, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 91

    Synonyms: FFS, for Christ's sake, for cripes' sake, for crying in the beer, for crying out loud, for fucking out loud, for fuck's sake, for God's sake

Synonyms & antonyms

interjectionUsed to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.

Similar
FFSfor Christ's sakefor cripes' sakefor crying in the beerfor crying out loudfor fucking out loudfor fuck's sakefor God's sakefor goodness' sakefor heaven's sakefor mercy's sakefor pity's sakefor the love of all that is holyfor the love of Betsyfor the love of Godfor the love of Mikefor the love of Mosesfor the love of fuckfor the love of Pete
Also see
for christ's sakefor crying out loudfor fuck's sakefor god's sakefor goodness' sakefor goodness' sakesfor heaven's sakefor mercy's sakefor pity's sakefor the love of betsyfor the love of godfor the love of mikefor the love of pete

Origin

Euphemistic variant of for Christ's sake, for God's sake; Pete either invoking Saint Peter or influenced by for pity's sake.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

for Pete's sake. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20Pete's%20sake

MLA

“for Pete's sake.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20Pete's%20sake. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “for Pete's sake,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20Pete's%20sake.

Source: for Pete's sake on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.