Pete?

[optomist]

Who was Pete whose sake we implore when exasperated...I know I should get out more!!

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/30/messages/1785.html

[factor-fiction]

And who was soft Mick?

And what did thought do? (You know what thought did- is it true he followed a muckcart and thought it was a wedding?)

[Clanad]

One source says:

"... The Oxford English Dictionary explains that the name “Pete” in these exclamations is chiefly “a euphemistic replacement for god.”

The phrase “for Pete’s sake” was first recorded in 1903, according to OED citations, followed by “for the love of Pete” in 1906, and “in the name of Pete” in 1942.

The intent, in case you didn’t already know, is to express “exasperation or annoyance,” the dictionary says.

Why “Pete” rather than “Phil” or “Fred” or “Percy”?

We don’t know, though the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins speculates (without offering any evidence) that whoever coined “for Pete’s sake” may have had St. Peter in mind.

These “Pete” expressions belong to a large class of euphemistic phrases that developed as substitutes for more irreverent oaths..."

[Sharingan]

I think 'For Peter's sake' aka St Peter, calling in a Saint.

[Hypognosis]

For Pity's sake - misheard, or bowdlerised.

[factor-fiction]

And who was Riley who lived the life of Riley.
Or Gordon Bennett

[Tilly2]

or Flaming Nora?

[Mamyalynne]

A comic explanation for Soft Mick


Soft mick was a lad from GALWAY in southern Ireland who could never say no when offered a bargain,he lived just north of manchester near Oswaldtwistle.This saying followed him all his life up north.

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-life-of-riley.html

[Mamyalynne]

"...The ‘Nora' is not a woman's name but a form of the word ‘horror'. The phrase started off as "flaming horror" (or "flipping/bloody etc horror") as a cry of dismay/disbelief. In the normal Cockney manner, the final ‘g' and the opening ‘h' were dropped to produce something that sounded like "flamin-orror" and that in turn over the years became "Flamin' Nora!"...or "Bloody Nora" as a stronger alternative..."

[factor-fiction]

Is this your specialist subject, Mamya?
I used to enjoy watching 'Balderdash and Piffle' which explored origins of words and expressions

[Mamyalynne]

Not at all though am quite an expert at trivial nonsense lol

[Ratty2E]

... BillyO? Quite speedy apparently.

[heathfield]

Jings, crivvens, an' help ma Boab!