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Why do people cry 'uncle'?
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Feb 21, 2011 · Why is the wrestling term "cry uncle," and not aunt or anything else? There is no definitive history on the origin of the phrase, though there is plenty of speculation.
Unraveling the Mystery: What Does 'Cry Uncle' Mean? • Discover the fascinating origins and meaning of the phrase 'Cry Uncle' in this captivating video. Learn...
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- "Go bananas" Monkeys may be our genetic brethren, but they act a little crazier than humans do. Hence the phrase "go ape," which some linguists believe led to "go bananas," as they are stereotypically the favorite snack of apes.
- "Toot your own horn" Back in the sixteenth century, the arrival of a VIP into town was signaled by the trumpeting of horns. If a person blows their own horns (or toots them), it's still seen as being proud or arrogant.
- "Sit tight" This phrase's history doesn't seem to be all that complicated: A person who is sitting literally tightly will be unmoved. If someone asks you to sit tight, they want you to take no further action until told otherwise.
- "Up in the air" This phrase is particularly poetic: If something's up in the air, it's floating around, or not settled. Apparently, English speakers said just "in the air" until the 1800s or so.
Nov 28, 1998 · This call by one child for another to submit or cry for mercy — which appears variously as say uncle!, cry uncle! or holler uncle! — is first recorded in print in the US early in the twentieth century.
Unraveling the Mystery: The Meaning of "Cry Uncle" • Discover the fascinating meaning and origin of the phrase "cry uncle" in this informative video. Learn h...
Say 'uncle'!" is a chiefly North American expression demanding that the opponent in a contest submit. The response " Uncle! " is equivalent to "I give up!" or similar sentiment, and indicates submission.
The exact origin of "say uncle" or "cry uncle," an American invention first appearing in written English around 1918, is unclear, but there are, as usual, some interesting theories.
