Does anyone know the origination of the phrase “For Pete’s Sake?” Who was Pete?
I think it may be a slang offshoot of the expression “for pity’s sake.”
St. Peter, head of the Apostles and Gatekeeper of Heaven. As a heavenly VIP, his name is often substituted for “God” in expressions.
I can only add that the expression originated in the US sometime in the 1920’s.
It’s a less blasphemous version of “for God’s sake,” with “Pete” substituting for God. Most probably, “Pete” is Saint Peter.