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To admit defeat or plead for mercy
- cry uncle To admit defeat or plead for mercy, especially in an informal physical contest of some kind.
idioms.thefreedictionary.com › cry+uncle
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What does Cry Uncle mean?
What does it mean if a child says 'Uncle'?
When did the phrase 'Cry Uncle' come out?
(American English) admit that you have been beaten or defeated: They’re determined to make the President cry uncle in the budget debate. Originally, this comes from children’s games in which the child has to say the word ‘uncle’ to admit defeat.
- Dictionary
1. a brother of one's father or mother. 2. the husband of...
- Idioms
cry uncle. To admit defeat or plead for mercy, especially in...
- Dictionary
Also, say uncle . Concede defeat, as in The Serbs want the Bosnians to cry uncle , or If you say uncle right now, I'll let you go first in the next game . This phrase originated about 1900 as an imperative among school-children who would say, “Cry uncle when you've had enough (of a beating).”.
Cry-uncle Definition. (US, idiomatic) To beg for mercy; to give up; to ask to stop (something painful or unbearable). Anyone who doesn't cry uncle after the first week will probably last the season.
Aug 31, 2023 · cry uncle (third-person singular simple present cries uncle, present participle crying uncle, simple past and past participle cried uncle) ( US , colloquial ) To beg for mercy ; to give up , admit defeat.
Say (cry) uncle definition: . See examples of SAY (CRY) UNCLE used in a sentence.
