For crying out loud

For crying out loud is an idiom that has been in use for about 100 years. We will examine the meaning of the common saying for crying out loud, where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences.

For crying out loud is an idiom that is exclaimed when one is annoyed at a situation. For crying out loud is an expression of frustration, impatience, or exasperation. The phrase for crying out loud originated in the United States in the 1920s, and the cartoonist Thomas Aloysius Dorgan is credited with popularizing the idiom. For crying out loud is a minced oath, which is an oath in which the profane or offensive word is replaced with a euphemism in order to make the term suitable for all audiences. The inappropriate oath replaced by crying out loud is for Christ’s sake.

Examples

I’d suggest packing a heater and your equipment on a sled to make transportation easier, and, for crying out loud, be sure to keep a check on ice thickness. (Chillicothe Constitution Tribune)

For crying out loud — and there’s a lot of those going on at those four schools, Belmont received more votes in the AP poll than those four teams last week. (Times West-Virginian)

“But for crying out loud, let’s make sure we can get life back to normal for these kids.” (Twin Falls Times-News)