Dictionary

for goodness' sake en · ADP

Pronunciation

• /fɔɹ ˈɡʊdnəs seɪk/ (Canada, US)
• /fə ˈɡʊdnəs seɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation, UK)

Etymology

A minced version of for God's sake.

Meanings

1. (euphemistic, idiomatic) Used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
   • She's 1.98m for goodness sake! How can you not find her!? 2017 May 1, Dana Johannsen, “What happens when you watch six hours of ANZ Premiership netball?”, in New Zealand Herald:
   • You're 47, for goodness' sake. Too old for this! 2015 April 28, Tracey Spicer, “Taming tiny terrors: How to have a happy family holiday”, in The Press:
   • For goodness' sake, get off the computer! You've been on there for ages!
2. (euphemistic, idiomatic) Used to express surprise or amazement.
   • No salesman is ever a bore if he can make us throw up our hands and say, "Well, for goodness' sake! What do you know about that ?" Yes, surprise is the thing. 1921, Printers' Ink Monthly - Volumes 3-4, page 42:
   • I thought, for goodness' sake, fancy them being the same! 2016 November 24, Te Ahua Maitland, “Woman celebrating 100th birthday receives 50 double-ups on cards”, in The Southland Times:
   • For goodness' sake, I spelled that word correctly. I never knew I could do that.
   • “For goodness' sake,” Einstein exclaimed. “So that was the famous caviar!" He paused for a moment, then added, "Well, if you offer gourmet food to peasants like me, you know they won't appreciate it." 2008, Walter Isaacson, Einstein: His Life and Universe, →ISBN:
   • For goodness' sake, we go to Spain for a week and get new next-door neighbors! How lovely! 2014, Louise Millar, The Hidden Girl: A Novel, →ISBN, page 179:
3. (euphemistic, idiomatic) Used for emphasis
   • But for goodness sake, please review the plan and come up with detail that distinguishes each groups cultural identity and is something that the players can own. 2017 May 9, “Time for former champions to start again”, in Taranaki Daily News:
   • I am not normally a stickler for tradition – I had a baby out of wedlock, for goodness sake – but for some reason I want Harry to be my husband. 2013 August 26, Bryony Gordon, “'I am not normally a stickler for tradition – I had a baby out of wedlock, for goodness sake'”, in The Telegraph:
   • They'll try all they can to deceive and to cheat, But for goodness sake don't say I told you. 1888, Harrison and Morton, The Tippecanoe Campaign Songster:
   • Well, for goodness sake let me know if I can do anything. 2012 -, Hazel Holt, No Cure for Death, →ISBN:
   • These young women are busy, for goodness' sake, tired and overworked, stressed, trying to find time for themselves in days that have too little. 2017 May 14, Susan Estrich, “Mothers and memories”, in The Exponent Telegram:

Forms

Synonyms

for fuck's sake · Jesus Christ! · FFS · for crying out loud · for Pete's sake · for Christ's sake · Christ almighty! · for God's sake · for the love of God

Translations (14)

fi Herran tähden (used for emphasis) · fi hyvänen aika (used to express surprise or amazement) · pl na litość boską (used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance) · pl na litość boską (used for emphasis) · ga as ucht Dé (used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance) · pl na miłość boską (used to express surprise or amazement) · pl na litość boską (used to express surprise or amazement) · pl na miłość boską (used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance) · pl na miłość boską (used for emphasis) · fi herra paratkoon (used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance) · fi herra paratkoon (used to express surprise or amazement) · ga as ucht Dé (used to express surprise or amazement) · fi Herran tähden (used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance) · fi herra paratkoon (used for emphasis)

wikipedia: Minced oath