sakes alive

sakes alive

old-fashioned A mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. Primarily heard in US. Sakes alive, look at the time! How is it nearly midnight already? Sakes alive, Bill, would it kill you to take out the trash once in a while? Sakes alive, that cyclist nearly hit me!
See also: alive, sake
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • (for) land('s) sake(s) (alive)
  • Land o' Goshen!
  • (my) goodness
  • (oh) (my) gosh!
  • (oh) (my) God!
  • for gosh sakes
  • almighty
  • noes
  • oh noes
  • ach du lieber
References in classic literature
"Sakes alive, Miss Pollyanna," she gasped, "did that man SPEAK TO YOU?"
Pollyanna
How Hannah came in to exclaim, "Sakes alive, well I never!" in great astonishment at `that Jo's doin's'.
Little Women
"Sakes alive!." the woman muttered, as she looked down.
The Vanished Messenger
"Goodness Gracious Sakes Alive!" How can anyone not like Bill Walton ("Walton watch," Feb.
SPORTS MAIL
Rhinestone Mondays at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday MERCY sakes alive good brother, looks like we got us a cornball.
Country fare that fails to sparkle
Karma Wilson's Sakes Alive! A Cattle Drive (0316988413, $15.99) receives Karla Firehammer's zany drawings to illustrate what happens when two cows steal the keys on go on their own personal cattle drive joyride.
Little, Brown