Why do people say 'for Pete's sake?' Who is Pete?

Question

And who for that matter, is 'Gordon Bennett'?? Did he ever in his wildest dreams imagine his name would be immortalised as a poilte euphemism for 'oh sh*t'?

Answer 1

PETE:
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.

GORDON BENNETT:

It is commonly believed that this expression has its origins in the popularity of James Gordon-Bennett, Jr..

His father, born in Scotland in 1795, emigrated to the US to become a journalist and subsequently founded the 'New York Herald' in 1835. The many innovations he established within newspaper publishing, including European correspondents, illustrated news articles, the joint founding of The Associated Press (1848) and the first major use of the telegraph for news, led to a successful news empire which amassed considerable wealth.

It was his son, born in 1841 and known as Gordon-Bennett, who really captured the attention of the US and European populace. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he took every opportunity to live life as a playboy; his wild lifestyle and extravagant spending gained him notoriety in high society. On one occasion, at a New Year's party (1877) being held by his fiancee's father, he got so stupifyingly drunk as to mistake the fireplace for a toilet and proceeded to urinate in front of his prospective in-laws and their guests. Other tales include the occasion when, annoyed by the bulky roll of money in his back pocket, he burnt the lot in an impetuous fit. There are many more tales of his outrageous and extravagant behaviour, however not all cast him in a bad light, such as the numerous times he would donate large sums of money to charities.

He took over the management of the Herald in 1867, and proceeded to invest funds in newsworthy ventures. His funding included the expedition by Stanley to Africa, in search of Dr. David Livingstone, and an ill fated attempt to explore the North Pole and Arctic region by G.W. De Long in the years between 1879 and 1881. The 'Jeanette' expedition, as the Arctic trip was known, failed miserably and led to the subsequent death, via starvation, of De Long and 19 fellow crew members. There are several islands in Siberia that bear Bennett's name.

Gordon-Bennett was particularly partial to sports, being credited with introducing polo to the United States, his interests included yachting, in which he established the James Gordon-Bennett Cup for international races. Trophies were similarly given for balloon and aeroplane racing, of which the Gordon-Bennett balloon race still exists. As further testament to his involvement in the various racing arenas, it was in 1904 that the Gordon-Bennett Motor Car Road Racing Trials were first run on the Isle of Man, which was the precursor to the world famous TT races, currently still held there.

From 1877 he lived in Europe, mainly on his 301 foot yacht, the Lysistrata, from where he administered the running of the New York Herald. He died in France in May 1918, aged 78.

The use of James Gordon-Bennett's name as an expletive possibly bears relation to his outrageous lifestyle and involvement in newsworthy stunts. Imagine opening your daily newspaper and reading yet another news item telling you of his latest antics, and as you begin to express incredulity with a "God Almighty", you restrain your publically unacceptable language and instead say..... GORDON-BENNETT!

Answer 2

Pete was a sailor that sailed on HMS Galiant during the Napoleonic War he used to keep the gun powder dry.
Crew members had a habit of smoking a clay pipe's, Pete was very worried and placed a sign 'NO Smoking'
All the crew kept saying 'For Petes sake stop smoking' hence the reason for 'Petes sake'

Gordon Bennet was a General in the army that made alot of mistakes all the troops used the words when mistakes were made.

Answer 3

Wow, this question fascinates me, because I knew the origin of Pete's sake, but I have never in my life, not even once heard the phrase Gordon Bennett used in any context, especially as an exclamation. Where do you people live that use "Gordon Bennett"? It is not something I have ever heard in the U.S. I have family in Kentucky, Oklahoma, New York, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and a brother in law in London, and yet I have never heard the exclamation "Gordon Bennett!"

Answer 4

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 damn -- 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.

Answer 5

For Pete's sake came from the saying "for pity's sake".
My Dad's mate is called Gordon Bennett, don't know where the saying came from though.

Answer 6

I don't say any of the above but I feel extremely sorry for Pete and Gordon Bennett! I'd hate it is people used my name for a curse! Damn it! :D

Answer 7

These things usually stem from Christianity, so I suppose that Pete is St Peter (he was sort of Jesus' "right-hand man", he is the guy who greets people outside the gates of heaven when they die, and he was the first Pope).

Gordon sounds like the word "God" mixed up with another word, just like "goodbye" is a shortened version of "God be with you."

Answer 8

Pete is a nickname for Saint Peter, who is said to be waiting for us at the Pearly Gates of Heaven.

Answer 9

Pete Sake is Gordon Bennetts cousin. Think they are also related to Uncle Bob and Aunt Fanny (Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt!!!!!)

Answer 10

My name is Gorden Pete Bennet! and i will thank u kindly to stop using my names in vain! 4 gods sake!

Answer 11

"Pete" refers to St. Peter, one of Jesus disciples and a leader of the early Christian church. A similar expression is "For the love of Pete." A mild expletive, toned -down form of "For God's sake."