World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesThrow yourself on someone's mercy
/θroʊ jʊrˈsɛlf ɒn ˈsʌm.wʌnz ˈmɝː.si/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To place oneself completely at the discretion and compassion of another person, especially someone who has power or authority over one's fate.
"Realizing he had no defense against the charges, he decided to throw himself on the mercy of the court." - 2
To surrender control of a difficult situation to someone else, hoping for their kindness rather than strict justice.
"With our supplies running out, we had to throw ourselves on the mercy of the local villagers."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from Middle English legal and chivalric traditions, combining 'throw' in the sense of surrendering or submitting completely with 'mercy' from the Old French 'merci' (pity, reward, or pardon). The idiom reflects historical courtroom practices where a defendant would abandon a defense and plead entirely for the judge's compassion.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Throw yourself on someone's mercy"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Throw yourself on someone's mercy" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
s'en remettre à la merci de quelqu'un
Transliteration: sɑ̃ ʁəmɛtʁ a la mɛʁsi də kɛl.kœ̃
"Il a préféré s'en remettre à la merci du juge."
sich der Gnade von jemandem ausliefern
Transliteration: zɪç deːɐ̯ ɡnaːdə fɔn ˈjɛːmandəm ˈaʊ̯sˌliːfɐn
"Er musste sich der Gnade des Richters ausliefern."
rimettersi alla clemenza di qualcuno
Transliteration: riˈmet.tersi ˈal.la kleˈmɛn.tsa di kwalˈku.no
"Ha deciso di rimettersi alla clemenza della corte."
ponerse a merced de alguien
Transliteration: poˈneɾ.se a meɾˈseð de alˈgjen
"Decidió ponerse a merced del juez."
entregar-se à misericórdia de alguém
Transliteration: ẽ.tɾeˈɡaɾ.si a mi.zeɾˈkoɾ.dʒɐ dʒi alˈɡɐ̃j
"Ele resolveu entregar-se à misericórdia do tribunal."
दया की भीख माँगना
Transliteration: dayā kī bhīkh māṅgnā
"उसके पास कोई चारा नहीं था सिवाय अदालत की दया पर निर्भर रहने के।"
听凭某人发落
Transliteration: tīng píng mǒu rén fā luò
"他决定听凭法官的发落。"
선처를 바라다
Transliteration: seon-cheo-reul barada
"그는 판사에게 선처를 바랄 수밖에 없었다."
慈悲にすがる
Transliteration: jihi ni sugaru
"彼は裁判官の慈悲にすがるほかなかった。"
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