"For Pete's sake!"?

Question

We have heard it and most likely have used it, but I've often wondered during the occasional reverie... who's Pete? And why is it for his sake?

Answer 1

It is a minor oath used in place of a major one, like saying darn or heck instead of the real words.  The Pete is probably Saint Peter.

Answer 2

I read that it was St. Peter.

: : : : : : How did the saying "For Pete's Sake" come from?

: : : : : Biblical origins. Think of St Peter. Think of the omnipresent medieval church and think of hitting your thumb with a hammer. You can't swear, else the local priests will have you up before the Bishop and the Lord alone knows what the outcome of that will be, so you exclaim, in appropriate tone of voice, "For Saint Peter's sake" and carry on erecting the shelves. This phrase was amended to "For Pete's Sake" in later, less religiously oppressive, times.

: : : : This is called a "Minced oath," a substitution of a less offensive word.

: : : Not by me it's not; I just consider it a mild swearword to be used in polite company to express irritation at some other person's action or, more likely, inaction. Never ever think of it as a 'minced oath' which conjures up visions of mooing cattle, butchers in white aprons and the awful grinding sound of meat being extruded.

: : : Relax, please. No one should ever have such a passion for a phrase.

: Let me try this again. A "minced oath" means when a person starts to let go with a really bad swear -- like God d**n -- realizes he/she shouldn't say it and substitutes a harmless phrase like "Godfrey Daniel." And along the same line, a person starts to say "For God's Sake" and says "For Pete's Sake" instead. Or starts to say the F-word and says instead, "For goodness sake."

Let me also try again. Why a 'minced oath'? Where did such a phrase originate? Why not a 'mild Swearword', a 'Substituted Oath', even a 'Religious Oath' for goodness sake. A 'minced oath'; never use it, never heard anyone else use it and would advise all vegetarians to avoid it like the plague. Let's face it, it just not PC to introduce mince into swear words, however mild they may be.