for heaven's sake

See also: for Heaven's sake

English

Alternative forms

• for Heaven's sake

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Adverb

for heaven's sake

1. (idiomatic, euphemistic) Expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance, or the urgency of an instruction.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:for the love of God

   • 1980, Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, page 61:

     Don't ever use the hood on your anorak; and, if you do, for heaven's sake don't pull the string tight so that you peep out like a little baby in a siren suit.

   • 2023 August 9, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Disinterested and dishonest”, in RAIL, number 989, page 3:

     Labour frontbencher Louise Haigh (Shadow Transport Secretary for heaven's sake!) initially lambasted TOCs before the handful of specialist rail commentators fell on her tweets and she changed her tune, refocusing her fire on Government.

2. (idiomatic, euphemistic) Expresses surprise, sometimes pleasant.

   Well, for heaven's sake! Look who's here! Good to see you again!

Translations

Translations

• Dutch: in hemelsnaam
• Finnish: taivaan tähden
• French: pour l’amour du ciel
• German: um Himmels willen, gütiger Himmel
• Hebrew: לְמַעַן הַשֵּׁם (he) (lemá'an hashém)
• Hungarian: az ég szerelmére, az isten szerelmére (hu), az istenért
• Portuguese: por amor de Deus!, puta merda (pt) (vulgar)
• Turkish: tanrı aşkına, allah aşkına