Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

say-uncle

idiom

/seɪ ˈʌŋkl/

Definition

To admit defeat, often used when someone is in a position of being overwhelmed or outmatched, particularly in contexts of playful or competitive situations.

Examples

After several minutes of wrestling, Tim finally had to say uncle.
When I asked him to help with the math problems, he quickly said uncle, realizing he didn’t know how to solve them.
She wouldn’t say uncle, even when the team had her completely cornered in the game.

Meaning

The phrase ‘say uncle’ is commonly used to indicate that someone should surrender or give up, especially after a struggle or challenge that has caused them discomfort or distress.