Why Do We ‘Cry Uncle’ To Admit Defeat?
Think back to times of playfully tussling with an older sibling or being the unfortunate recipient of playground taunting — you may have been forced to shout “Uncle!” when it was time to admit defeat. This familial phrase is essentially another way to say, “I give up,” though it’s not
entirely clear why uncles are the go-to choice above aunts or other relatives. Some claim the phrase comes from the Irish language, others trace it to Roman culture, and there are those who say that crying uncle originated as a joke. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, some suggest that...
