for the love of

Idioms  

1. For the sake of, in consideration of. For example, She signed up for all these volunteer jobs for the love of praise . [c. 1200]

2. . 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

for the love of

“Read between the lines. People don’t come out of retirement for the love of the game at damn near 50. That’s not how boxing works,” Smith wrote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026

We’re talking about unstoppable levels of Big Dad Energy at every twist and turn, especially the kind of dad who is willing to do embarrassing things for the love of his daughter.

From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2025

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

“He plays for the love of the game and just because it’s all he knows,” Tyler said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2025

“We wouldn’t none of us have even been here tonight ... if it wasn’t for the love of all them stupid Coyote Angels.”

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols