for heaven's sake
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for heaven's sake
Used to add emphasis to a request or command and often expresses annoyance or impatience. It stresses that the person being addressed should comply with the request.
Jetzt hör mir gefälligst zu, wenn ich mit dir rede!
Now listen to me, for heaven's sake, when I'm talking to you!
'Gefälligst' comes from the adjective 'gefällig' (kind, obliging). However, the meaning is ironic and reversed: it expresses impatience, not a polite request.
Seien Sie so gefällig und reichen Sie mir das Buch. (höflich)
Be so kind as to hand me the book. (polite)
This word is used only in spoken language and expresses annoyance, impatience, or a clear instruction from a person in authority (e.g., parents to children). It can sound very rude.
Du räumst jetzt gefälligst dein Zimmer auf!
You are going to clean up your room now, for heaven's sake!
'Gefälligst' almost always appears in an imperative sentence. It can stand directly after the verb or, for emphasis, at the beginning of the sentence.
Sei gefälligst pünktlich!
Be on time, for heaven's sake!
please
Bitte can introduce a polite request, but it sounds harsh only because of the context. Gefälligst intensifies a request on its own and often expresses annoyance or impatience, as well as an expectation that the request will be obeyed. Use „bitte“ for a normal polite request and „gefälligst“ only when deliberately adding emphasis.
Räumen Sie den Tisch nach dem Essen gefälligst ab!
Clear the table after the meal, for heaven's sake!
Bitte räumen Sie den Tisch nach dem Essen ab.
Please clear the table after the meal.
