Why do some people say "for Pete's sake!"? who IS Pete anyway??

"For the love of Pete" and "For Pete's sake" are euphemisms for the phrases "For the love of God/Christ" or "For God's/Christ's sake" and hail from a time when those phrases were considered blasphemous.

'for the love of Pete' or 'Mike' or 'God', are exclamations of surprise, exasperation, or some similar feeling.

The phrase is a "minced oath." Instead of "for God's sake," a less offensive word is substituted. Pete is probably St. Peter.

Pete ruins all my curses. I mean, it just spoils road rage, yelling "you little Pete! Get off the Pete-ing road!"

Seriously, back when people used to care about using blasphemy in everyday language, they'd say 'Pete's sake' rather than 'God's sake' and 'Sam Hill' instead of 'Hell'. But not everyone agrees that Pete is meant to be Saint Peter, some experts think it was just a random name.

Check out this article for evidence and all kinds of not-quite-swearing fun.

http://sonic.net/maledicta/blasphemy.html

The phrase is a "minced oath." Instead of "for God's sake," a less offensive word is substituted. Pete is probably St. Peter.

I'm Pete! I love it when people do things for my sake! Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-men, brother!

Why for Pete's sake are you asking this question?!

Pete is a poor sole who never gets anything right i went to school with him.

I think it has something to do with St. Peter who some believe meets you at the pearly gates in Heaven. Otherwise - I would say Pete is my neighbor across the street but, he is no saint! :)

Pete is this guy that used to like up the street from Tony-Two-Tone.

i think it means

do it for what matters

thats hard to explain but

im not sure who pete is

that really makes you think! O_o

he fills in for God on occasions

For Pete's Sake how could you give me thumbs down again...........why do these people target me...........Pete's Sake

Not only that but i'm the only one who got a thumbs down

My ego has been destroyed thanks to this site