for the love of
Idioms-
For the sake of, in consideration of. For example, She signed up for all these volunteer jobs for the love of praise . [c. 1200]
-
. An exclamation of surprise, exasperation, or some similar feeling, as in For the love of Pete, give me the money! James Joyce used this idiom in Ulysses (1922): “For the love of Mike listen to him.” Pete and Mike are euphemisms for God. [Early 1900s] Also see for the sake of , def. 3.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This Halloween, for the love of America—please turn on the porch light, go door-to-door, open your own.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025
"I run the pub for the love of it and for the fact I'm a village girl," she says.
From BBC • Jul. 11, 2025
Some actors want success, while others perform for the love of the art.
From Salon • Jun. 17, 2025
I’m sure every general counsel with the network or the NFL is saying, “No, for the love of God, don’t do it.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2025
I begged Nora last night to show up in a black wig, eyeliner, and for the love of God, at least a My Chemical Romance shirt.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
