for the love of God

interjection

An expression of exasperation, usually while making a request.

“For the love of God, take that out of the microwave before it blows up!”

Similar
for the love of Betsyfor the love of Mikefor the love of Mosesfor Pete's sakefor crying out loudfor God's sakesakesFFS
OriginMiddle English for the luf of God ← Old English for Godes lufon →
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

interjection
  1. An expression of exasperation, usually while making a request.

    For the love of God, take that out of the microwave before it blows up!

    1 more example

    Why for the love of God do you insist on dressing your child like that?

    Synonyms: for the love of Betsy, for the love of Mike, for the love of Moses, for Pete's sake, for crying out loud, for God's sake, sakes, FFS

Synonyms & antonyms

interjectionAn expression of exasperation, usually while making a request.

Similar
for the love of Betsyfor the love of Mikefor the love of Mosesfor Pete's sakefor crying out loudfor God's sakesakesFFSfor 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 Pete's sakefor pity's sake
Also see
for christ's sakefor crying out loudfor fuck's sakefor god's sakefor goodness' sakefor heaven's sakefor mercy's sakefor pete's sakefor pity's sakefor the love of all that is goodfor the love of all that is holyfor the love of betsyfor the love of goddessfor the love of mikefor the love of mosesfor the love of petein the name of all that is holy

Origin

  1. Old Englishfor Godes lufon
  2. Middle Englishfor the luf of God
  3. Englishfor the love of God

From Middle English for the luf of God, for þe love of god, for ðe luve of gode (literally “for the love of God”), variant of for godes luve, for godes lufe, for godes lufen (literally “for God's love”), from Old English for Godes lufon (literally “for God's love”).

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

for the love of God. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20the%20love%20of%20God

MLA

“for the love of God.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20the%20love%20of%20God. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “for the love of God,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20the%20love%20of%20God.

Source: for the love of God on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.