cry uncle

English

Etymology

See etymology at say uncle.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

cry uncle (third-person singular simple present cries uncle, present participle crying uncle, simple past and past participle cried uncle)

1. (US, colloquial) To beg for mercy; to give up, admit defeat. [from 19th c.]
   • 1976, Geoffrey Wolff, Black Sun, New York Review of Books, published 2003, page 158:

     The Powels would serve strong punch and play loud music, and their parties ended when the last guest cried uncle, often a day and half after they began.

Synonyms

• say uncle