crying uncle
Giving in verbally
Crying uncle is admitting defeat or surrendering, especially when under physical or psychological pressure.
The phrase comes from the childhood ritual where one person pins another and demands they "say uncle" to be released.
Adults use it figuratively: After three failed attempts, I finally cried uncle and called a professional.
The origin of "uncle" as a surrender word remains obscure.
- acquiesceSubmit without protest
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- waving white flagGesture of surrender
- give inCease resistance, concede
giving up · submit · capitulate · throwing in the towel · relenting · yield · tapping out · giving up the ghost · admitting defeat · concession · knuckling under · submission · bending the knee · raising hands · succumbing · backing down · forfeiting · caving in
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- defeatdefeat, beaten, conquered, vanquished, loss
crying unclewinning
Achieving victory
triumphing · conquering · prevailing · dominating · vanquishing
crying uncleholding out
Refusing to surrender
persevering · enduring · gritting one's teeth · hanging in there · soldiering on
crying uncledefying
Actively refusing obedience
resisting · fighting back · standing one's ground · holding firm · digging in
crying, uncle, cries, cried, crier, criers, uncles, avuncular