
Throw yourself on somebody’s mercy
Desperation
Used when someone has no other options and is in a desperate situation.
With no allies left, the captured spy threw himself on the enemy's mercy.
Power Dynamic
Shows a power imbalance where one person is completely at the mercy of another.
The tenant threw herself on the landlord's mercy when she couldn't pay the rent.
Not Literal
It's a figurative expression and doesn't involve physical action.
Failing the final exam, Joe threw himself on the professor's mercy for extra credit.