throw (oneself) on/at (someone's) mercy

throw (oneself) on/at (someone's) mercy

To plead with someone, especially a figure of authority, to show one lenience and mercy. I have no excuse for what I did. I can only throw myself on your mercy and beg for forgiveness. She threw herself at the court's mercy, saying that her dependence on drugs led her to commit those crimes.See also: mercy, on, throw

throw yourself on somebody’s ˈmercy

(formal) put yourself in a situation where you must rely on somebody to be kind to you and not harm or punish you: Throw yourself on the mercy of the court, and they might not send you to prison.See also: mercy, on, throw