{adj. phr.} In the power of; subject to the will and wishes of; without defense against. * /The champion had the other boxer at his mercy./ * /The picnic was at the mercy of the weather./ * /The small grocer was at the mercy of people he owed money to./
AT ONE'S MERCY
Meaning of AT ONE'S MERCY in English
Dictionary of English idioms . Словарь английских идиом. 2012