A Grammatical Conundrum

[MelissaBaby]

 

[Voboy]

fuck's

 

[Bamagan]

But what if I'm talking about a sake brand, Fuck Sake?

 

[Rob_Royale]

We usually just use FFS at work and avoid the issue entirely.

 

[OralAllOver]

no

"Fuck" in this context has no meaning, not a noun. Or adjective

Similar to "gosh"

It signals emphasis

Like when banks arbitrarily foreclose on your home

 

[SimonDoom]

For fuck's sake.

Find an analogy:

For Pete's sake. It's not "For Pete Sake" or "For Petes Sake."

For Heaven's sake.

Same idea, only you substitute the irreverent and obscene "fuck" for those other words.

 

[Bramblethorn]

no

"Fuck" in this context has no meaning, not a noun. Or adjective

Similar to "gosh"

It signals emphasis

Like when banks arbitrarily foreclose on your home

It can be used purely as an exclamation, but I disagree with the interpretation that that's what's happening here.

When a word's being used as an exclamation, you can drop that exclamation out and what's left should still have the same meaning, minus the intensity:

"FUCK! I stubbed my toe!"
"Fuck! I forgot to buy beer!"

etc.

But "for fucks sake" is meaningless and incomplete; "fuck" has to be a noun here to fit into that structure.

 

[MelissaBaby]

no

"Fuck" in this context has no meaning, not a noun. Or adjective

Similar to "gosh"

It signals emphasis

Like when banks arbitrarily foreclose on your home

“Gosh” is not without meaning. It is an alteration of “God”, used to avoid blasphemy.

 

[XerXesXu]

'for fuck' sake' and 'I use' to' probably reflect the elision in dialogue.

Or:
'fuck'sake' and 'use'to'

Or:

'fucksake' and 'useto'

 

[WittyUserName]

It can be used purely as an exclamation, but I disagree with the interpretation that that's what's happening here.

When a word's being used as an exclamation, you can drop that exclamation out and what's left should still have the same meaning, minus the intensity:

"FUCK! I stubbed my toe!"
"Fuck! I forgot to buy beer!"

etc.

But "for fucks sake" is meaningless and incomplete; "fuck" has to be a noun here to fit into that structure.

"Fuck" is one of the most diverse words in English! I remember reading it can be a sentence almost by itself. "Fuck those fucking fuckers!"

I'm no expert, but I THINK it's supposed to be "for fuck's sake!"

 

[Comshaw]

Well a WAG on my part would be that it's referring to what ever particular fuck is part of the conversation so I'd go with, "for fuck's sake!" This might help with the confusion. I found a little English lesson on Youtube for the F-word. Ready? Pencils out, pads at the ready, aaaaaand go!

Comshaw

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Fuck" is one of the most diverse words in English! I remember reading it can be a sentence almost by itself. "Fuck those fucking fuckers!"

There’s a scene in The Wire where two detectives review an entire crime scene and the only word they say is fuck or motherfucker, but they use it in so many different ways it completely conveys the entire scene.

Probably my favorite word in the English language.

 

[TheLobster]

My attitude towards this issue is accurately summarized by the following:

 

[lovecraft68]

I use "Fuck's sake"

I know shit about grammar but in my mind, the sake belongs to the fuck, therefore possessive.

I am available for editing advice anytime.

 

[MrStill]

Based on the Big Lebowski experience, the safe for network TV version would be "for find's sake".
Yeah, I know.

 

[crookedletter]

I’m inclined toward “fuck’s sake,” but the endless versatility of the word “fuck” allows for whatever suits the context or the writer’s whims.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I asked Gollum, It's 'for fuckses's sake.'

 

[StillStunned]

The real question is, what would you do for the sake of a fuck?

And dammit, the Plot Bunny strikes again. New story, coming just as soon as I get round to writing it: "For The Sake Of A Fuck".

 

[SimonDoom]

"for fuck's ache" has interesting implications.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

The real question is, what would you do for the sake of a fuck?

And dammit, the Plot Bunny strikes again. New story, coming just as soon as I get round to writing it: "For The Sake Of A Fuck".

Another in the Too *** Not to Fuck series?????

What if Mom and Dad saw them and just watched???

 

[StillStunned]

Another in the Too *** Not to Fuck series?????

Hmm, that might just work.

 

[TheUKGent]

 

[TheUKGent]

I know it's not technically FFS, but I do love this one.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Based on the Big Lebowski experience, the safe for network TV version would be "for find's sake".
Yeah, I know.

You see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps, Larry!

 

[TheLobster]

Another in the Too *** Not to Fuck series?????

“Too Saked Not To Fuck”, taking place in Japan.