Pete

for the love of Pete

A mild oath of shock, exasperation, annoyance, frustration, or anger, with "Pete" being a euphemistic substitution for "God." For the love of Pete, I didn't even see that car coming! Would you let me finish my story, for the love of Pete? Oh for the love of Pete, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it!See also: love, of, Pete

honest to Pete

Honestly; truly; genuinely. An expression used to emphasize the veracity of one's statement, "Pete" here is a substitution of the word "God," so as to avoid potential blasphemy. I swear it wasn't me who broke the lamp, honest to Pete! Honest to Pete, how are we supposed to finish this project on time with half of our staff laid off?See also: honest, Pete

sneaky Pete

slang Cheap, low-quality wine. Primarily heard in US. I can't drink sneaky Pete anymore, that stuff is disgusting! Is he drunk on sneaky Pete already?See also: Pete, sneaky

for Pete's sake

A mild oath of exasperation, annoyance, frustration, anger, or surprise. Would you let me finish my story, for Pete's sake? Oh for Pete's sake, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it! For Pete's sake! I haven't seen you in years!See also: sake

honest to God

1. expression Honestly; truly; genuinely. Used to emphasize the veracity of one's statement. I swear it wasn't me who broke the lamp, honest to God! Honest to God, how are we supposed to finish this project on time with half of our staff laid off?2. adjective Genuine; actual. In this uage, the phrase is hyphenated. It was a real, honest-to-God treasure map. I couldn't believe me eyes.See also: god, honest

honest to goodness

1. expression Honestly; truly; genuinely. Used to emphasize the veracity of one's statement. "Goodness" here is a substitution of the word "God," so as to avoid potential blasphemy. I swear it wasn't me who broke the lamp, honest to goodness! Honest to goodness, how are we supposed to finish this project on time with half of our staff laid off?2. adjective Genuine; actual. In this uage, the phrase is hyphenated. It was a real, honest-to-goodness treasure map. I couldn't believe me eyes.See also: goodness, honest

For Pete's sake!

and For pity's sake!; For the love of Mike!; For goodness sake!; For gosh sake!; For heaven('s) sake!a mild exclamation of surprise or shock. For Pete's sake! How've ya been? For pity's sake! Ask the man in out of the cold!

Honest to goodness.

and Honest to God.; Honest to Pete.I speak the truth. (Some people may object to the use of God in this phrase.) Did he really say that? Honest to goodness? Honest to Pete, I've been to the South Pole.See also: goodness, honest

for Pete's sake

Also, for pity's sake. See for the sake of, def. 3. See also: sake

for the love of

1. For the sake of, in consideration of. For example, She signed up for all these volunteer jobs for the love of praise. [c. 1200] 2. for the love of Pete or Mike or God . An exclamation of surprise, exasperation, or some similar feeling, as in For the love of Pete, give me the money! James Joyce used this idiom in Ulysses (1922): "For the love of Mike listen to him." Pete and Mike are euphemisms for God. [Early 1900s] Also see for the sake of, def. 3. See also: love, of

for the sake of

1. Also for one's sake. Out of consideration or regard for a person or thing; for someone's or something's advantage or good. For example, For Jill's sake we did not serve meat, or We have to stop fighting for the sake of family unity. [Early 1200s] 2. For the purpose or motive of, as in You like to quarrel only for the sake of an argument. [Early 1200s] 3. for God's sake. Also for goodness or heaven's or Pete's or pity's sake . An exclamation showing surprise, impatience, anger, or some other emotion, depending on the context. For example, For God's sake, I didn't expect to see you here, or Hurry up, for goodness sake, or For heaven's sake, how can you say such a mean thing? or For pity's sake, finish your dinner. The variants are euphemisms for God. [c. 1300] For a synonym, see for the love of, def. 2. See also: of, sake

honest to God

Also, honest to goodness or Pete ; honest Injun. Truly, really, as in Honest to God, I didn't know it was yours, or Honest to goodness, we had exactly the same experience, or I promise I'll finish in time, honest to Pete, or Honest Injun, I didn't take your wallet. These colloquial assertions date from about 1900, except for honest Injun, dating from the late 1800s and today considered offensive. See also: god, honest

Pete

Also, Peter. See for one's (Pete's) sake; honest to god (Pete); rob Peter to pay Paul.

for ˌPete’s ˈsake

(British English) used to emphasize that it is important to do something, or when you are annoyed or impatient about something: For Pete’s sake, what are you doing in that bathroom? You’ve been in there for nearly an hour.See also: sake

For Pete’s sake!

and For pity’s sake! and For the love of Mike! exclam. Good grief! For Pete’s sake! Is that you Charlie? For pity’s sake! Ask the man in out of the cold!

for the love of

For the sake of; in consideration for: did it all for the love of praise.See also: love, of

for heaven's/Pete's/pity's sake

An expression of surprise, emphasis, exasperation, outrage, and so forth. These all are euphemisms for “for God’s sake,” which in some circles is considered blasphemous. “For heaven’s sake” dates at least from the nineteenth century. “For Pete’s sake” appeared in Dialect Notes in 1924. “For pity’s sake” dates from the sixteenth century; Michael Drayton used it in one of his Idea sonnets of 1593: “Rebate thy spleen, if but for pities sake!” See also for the love of Mike/Pete/God.See also: sake

for the love of Mike/Pete/God

An expression of exasperation, surprise, or the like. Pete and Mike both are euphemisms for God, which is considered blasphemous by some. They date from the early 1900s. See also for heaven's/Pete's/pity's sake. James Joyce used one in Ulysses (1922), “For the love of Mike, listen to him.”See also: god, love, mike, of, Pete

honest to goodness/God/Pete

Truly; I swear this is true. These assertions of veracity date from about 1900. The earliest seems to have been honest to God, which appeared in Jack London’s Valley of the Moon (1913). Goodness and Pete are probably euphemisms for “God,” which some might have considered blasphemous. Another equivalent, now considered offensive, is honest Injun (or Indian), dating from the second half of the 1800s and popularized by Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.See also: god, goodness, honest, Pete

Pete

Pete

for the love of Pete

honest to Pete

sneaky Pete

for Pete's sake

honest to God

honest to goodness

For Pete's sake!

Honest to goodness.

for Pete's sake

for the love of

for the sake of

honest to God

Pete

for ˌPete’s ˈsake

For Pete’s sake!

for the love of

for heaven's/Pete's/pity's sake

for the love of Mike/Pete/God

honest to goodness/God/Pete

PETE

Pete