When they say "for Pete's sake", who is pete?

Factual Questions
1

Who is he and why are they saying his name?

Another question about sayings. When someone is speaking about a subject or two, sometimes people say “and not to mention, _______” and then they mention it anyway.

Why do they do that?

2

I would guess they’re referring to the biblical Peter.

And the “not to mention” thing is just a figure of speech. It’s referring to the fact that the thing not mentioned wasn’t mentioned before they said it.

3

It may be a corruption of “for pity’s sake.”

4

[QUOTE=spoke-]
It may be a corruption of “for pity’s sake.”
[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah,
cite.

5

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355348&highlight=pete's+sake

A previous thread which may give some enlightenment.

6

[QUOTE=samclem]
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355348&highlight=pete's+sake

A previous thread which may give some enlightenment.
[/QUOTE]

DOH ! I should’ve used the search. :frowning: Thanks !

7

My dad?

8

[QUOTE=garygnu]
My dad?
[/QUOTE]

That’s what I was thinkin..

9

He’s just this guy, you know?

10

[QUOTE=hawksgirl]
He’s just this guy, you know?
[/QUOTE]

I think you’re right. He’s like Al Gettout. :stuck_out_tongue:

11

[QUOTE=diggleblop]
Another question about sayings. When someone is speaking about a subject or two, sometimes people say “and not to mention, _______” and then they mention it anyway.

Why do they do that?
[/QUOTE]

As Strinka points out, this is a figure of speech, more specifically called Paralipsis.

Originally this was an ironic way of mentioning a bad quality of a person/thing without admitting you are mentioning it. However, “not to mention” has become such a cliche in modern English that it’s almost equivalent to “and”.