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at the mercy of — completely under the control of someone or something; helpless against someone or something

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: completely under the control of someone or something; helpless against someone or something

Pronunciation (IPA): /æt ðə ˈmɜrsi ʌv/

Korean meaning: 누군가 또는 무언가의 완전한 지배하에 있는; ~의 자비에 맡겨진

Korean pronunciation: 앳 더 **머**시 어브

Example Sentences

  • My phone battery died, so I'm completely at the mercy of my mom's navigation skills.
  • The refugees were at the mercy of the harsh winter weather.
  • Once you're on that roller coaster, you're at the mercy of gravity and prayer.

at the mercy of

NOUN

//æt ðə ˈmɜrsi ʌv//

completely under the control of someone or something; helpless against someone or something

at the mercy of concept
💡 Concept

The small fishing boat was at the mercy of the raging storm.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/æt ðə ˈmɜrsi ʌv/
🇬🇧 UK/æt ðə ˈmɜːsi ɒv/

🌳Etymology

Origin

'mercy'는 라틴어 'merces'(보상, 임금)에서 유래되어 '자비, 연민'의 의미로 발전했습니다. 중세 시대 전장에서 패배한 기사가 승자의 '자비'를 구하던 관습에서 이 표현이 생겨났습니다.

🎵Rhyme

mercycontroversycourtesy
mercy
controversy
courtesy

🔗Collocations

be at the mercy of
leave someone at the mercy of
at the mercy of nature
at the mercy of circumstances
completely at the mercy of

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My phone battery died, so I'm completely at the mercy of my mom's navigation skills.”

“The refugees were at the mercy of the harsh winter weather.”

😄 Fun example

“Once you're on that roller coaster, you're at the mercy of gravity and prayer.”

“The startup company was at the mercy of its major investor's decisions.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

helpless againstvulnerable todependent onsubject topowerless before

Antonyms

in control ofmaster ofindependent from

Related

mercyvulnerablehelplessdependentpowerless

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