English edit

Etymology edit

See etymology at say uncle.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Verb edit

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 edit