# For the love of Mike **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2001, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985 "2001-01-27T06:47:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/1 "2001-01-27T06:47:45Z")
In composing a reply the other day expressing some frustration,the phrase _for the love of Mike_ popped into my head. I was about to use it when it occurred to me that I actually (to the best of my recollection) haven’t heard or used the phrase in decades and that many SDers might not understand the meaning. In any event, my bookmarked site on phrase origins as well as a google search led to only one inquiry in another forum that was not replied to. **Does anyone know who Mike was?** ---
**Author:** ![iamutt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9e8a1a/32.png) [@iamutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamutt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/2 "2001-01-27T09:19:47Z")
I’ve always thought it was ‘For the love of Pete’ (or was that ‘For Pete’s sake’) At any rate, maybe Mike is Pete’s brother!? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/3 "2001-01-27T12:54:27Z")
_Lighter, American Dictionary of Slang_ says it is a euphemism for **for the love of God**. He cites Mike from 1892 in print, and Pete from 1906. Mike gets many more cites than Pete. Mom always liked him best. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/4 "2001-01-27T15:15:25Z")
My real name is Mike. I’m glad that I am so loved. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/5 "2001-01-27T16:04:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grienspace \* > **Does anyone know who Mike was?** Me. Still am, actually. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iamutt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9e8a1a/32.png) [@iamutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamutt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/6 "2001-01-27T17:05:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\*_Lighter, American Dictionary of Slang_ says it is a euphemism for **for the love of God**. > > He cites Mike from 1892 in print, and Pete from 1906. Mike gets many more cites than Pete. Mom always liked him best. 😉 \*\* So…basically, when I die and go to heaven (\<\ **Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/7 "2001-01-27T22:00:07Z") Using “Mike” and “Pete” as replacements for God is a reference to the saints by those names: St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Peter, Gatekeeper of the Kingdom of Heaven. They’re not God, but one presumes that they would be rather significant figures in the day-to-day operations of the Hereafter. Of course, **iamutt** , you probably could saunter (or fly) up to St. Mike and ask him how it’s going. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2001, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-love-of-mike/51985/8 "2001-01-28T05:03:12Z")
**Chronos** While you may be correct, where did you get the scoop on “Using “Mike” and “Pete” as replacements for God is a reference to the saints by those names: St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Peter, Gatekeeper of the Kingdom of Heaven.” ?