cry uncle

cry uncle
holler uncle & cry uncle & say uncle
Fig. to admit defeat. •

Joe kept pounding on Jim, trying to get him to holler uncle.

He twisted my arm until I cried uncle.

* * *
See: SAY UNCLE.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • cry\ uncle — • say uncle • cry uncle v. phr. informal To say that you surrender; admit that you have lost; admit a defeat; give up. Bob fought for five minutes, but he had to say uncle. The bully twisted Jerry s arm and said, Cry uncle. The other team was… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • cry uncle — See: SAY UNCLE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cry uncle — verb To beg for mercy; to give up; to ask to stop (something painful or unbearable). Anyone who doesnt cry uncle after the first week will probably last the season …   Wiktionary

  • cry uncle — admit defeat or that one has lost He finally had to cry uncle when the other wrestler pinned him to the mat …   Idioms and examples

  • cry uncle — cry (or say) uncle informal surrender or admit defeat …   Useful english dictionary

  • uncle — [uŋ′kəl] n. [OFr < L avunculus, one s mother s brother, dim. of * avo < IE * awos , maternal grandfather > OE eam, OHG oheim, uncle, L avus, grandfather] 1. the brother of one s father or mother 2. the husband of one s aunt 3. [Old… …   English World dictionary

  • uncle — I. n 1. British a pawnbroker. A use of the word which arose in the 18th century, referring (probably ironically) to the mon eylender s avuncular assistance. The term was still heard in London in the 1950s and may survive. From the 1980s it was… …   Contemporary slang

  • uncle — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French, from Latin avunculus mother s brother; akin to Old English ēam uncle, Welsh ewythr, Latin avus grandfather Date: 14th century 1. a. the brother of one s father or mother b. the husband of one s… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • uncle — uncleless, adj. uncleship, n. /ung keuhl/, n. 1. a brother of one s father or mother. 2. an aunt s husband. 3. a familiar title or term of address for any elderly man. 4. Slang. a pawnbroker. 5. (cap.) Informal. Uncle Sam …   Universalium

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