mercy

mer|cy1 [ `mɜrsi ] noun *

1. ) uncount the act of forgiving someone or not treating them severely, especially someone you have the authority to punish:

In this state, with hundreds on death row, mercy is a rare commodity.

show someone mercy (=behave with mercy toward them): The courts are expected to show them mercy in these situations.

beg/plead/pray for mercy: She got on her knees and begged for mercy.

a ) only before noun used about kind things that people do to help other people:

mercy mission: a mercy mission to bring food to people in devastated areas

b ) have mercy (on someone) to treat someone in a kind way instead of a cruel way

c ) throw yourself on someone's mercy MAINLY LITERARY to ask someone in authority to treat you in a kind way

2. ) count BRITISH a situation that is not as bad as it could have been

at the mercy of

in a situation that is controlled by someone or something with the power to harm you:

Workers are entirely at the mercy of dishonest employers.

be thankful/grateful for small mercies

used to say that you should be grateful for something good that has happened because it is one of the few good things in a bad situation

leave someone to the (tender) mercies of HUMOROUS

to put someone into a situation where they could be treated in a strict or unfair way:

We were left to the tender mercies of the IRS.

mercy

mer|cy 2 [ `mɜrsi ] interjection OLD-FASHIONED

used for expressing surprise, shock, or fear