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Jan 25, 2001 · It seems that while "crying uncle" is today regarded as an Americanism, its origins go all the way back to the Roman Empire. Roman children, when beset by a bully, would be forced to say "Patrue, mi Patruissimo," or "Uncle, my best Uncle," in order to surrender and be freed. As to precisely "why" bullies force their victims to "cry uncle ...
The other popular theory about "cry uncle" suggests that the phrase may actually be thousands of years old, and that its origins go all the way back to the Roman Empire. According to this theory, Roman children, when beset by a bully, would be forced to say "Patrue, mi Patruissimo," or "Uncle, my best Uncle," in order to surrender and be freed.
The precise origin of the Uncle Sam character is unclear, but a popular legend is that the name "Uncle Sam" was derived from Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker from Troy, New York, who supplied rations for American soldiers during the War of 1812. There was a requirement at the time for contractors to stamp their name and where the rations came from ...
uncle (n.) uncle. (n.) late 13c., from Old French oncle, from Latin avunculus "mother's brother" ("father's brother" was patruus ), literally "little grandfather," diminutive of avus "grandfather," from PIE root *awo- "grandfather, adult male relative other than one's father" (source also of Armenian hav "grandfather," Hittite huhhas ...
The meaning of cry uncle. Definition of cry uncle. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.
Definition of cry uncle in the Idioms Dictionary. cry uncle phrase. What does cry uncle expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.
surrender. break. cave in. say uncle. give up. give way. put one's tail between one's legs. “The stubborn one-time peanut vendor may have to cry uncle again.”. Verb.
