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!
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?
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?
for Pete's 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.
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.
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.
Pete