I’m sure everyone has heard someone say “for pete’s sake”. A wendy’s commercial( the one in the hockey rink) says “for the love of pete”. I’m sure these two sayings go hand in hand. Can anybody tell me where the saying comes from
I always assumed it was like shouting “My God” or “Jesus Christ” and that it refered to St. Peter.
I for one welcome our new insect overlords… - K. Brockman
From… http://www.takeourword.com/Issue011.html
"For Pete’s sake is used in lieu of for God’s sake. It would therefore be known as a euphemism. The Pete in question is indeed St. Peter – he’s apparently as close to God as one can get without openly blaspheming. The Pete form of this expression first appeared in 1924. The expression for mercy’s sake dates back to the 16th century, interestingly. That phrase originally meant “for the sake of mercy”, as in “for mercy’s sake, help the man”. "