cry uncle

Unknown. Uncle may be an anglicization of Irish anacal (“protection”).

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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, surrender; indicate submission, such as when wrestling. [from 19th c.]

   Synonyms: say uncle, cry craven

   • 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.