for the love of Mike/Pete/God

for the love of Mike/Pete/God

An expression of exasperation, surprise, or the like. Pete and Mike both are euphemisms for God, which is considered blasphemous by some. They date from the early 1900s. See also for heaven's/Pete's/pity's sake. James Joyce used one in Ulysses (1922), “For the love of Mike, listen to him.”
See also: god, love, mike, of, Pete
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • for heaven's/Pete's/pity's sake
  • (oh) (my) God!
  • just (one's) luck
  • just my luck
  • just my, his, etc. luck
  • almighty
  • (Holy) Mother of God
  • what did your last slave die of
  • OMG
  • FGI