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for crying out loud

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for crying out loud

(spoken)

I am annoyed or surprised by this No, I haven't bought her a present yet. Her birthday is a month away, for crying out loud.

Usage notes: used for emphasis

Related vocabulary: for Christ's sake

See also: crying, loud, out

for crying out loud

An exclamation of anger or exasperation, as in For crying out loud, can't you do anything right? This term is a euphemism for "for Christ's sake." [Colloquial; early 1900s]

See also: crying, loud, out

for crying out loud

Used to express annoyance or astonishment: Let's get going, for crying out loud!

See also: crying, loud, out