at the mercy of vs at the control of

The phrase 'at the mercy of' is correct and commonly used in English, while 'at the control of' is not a standard phrase. 'At the mercy of' implies being completely under someone else's power or influence, while 'at the control of' is not a typical expression in English.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 892 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate being completely under someone else's power or influence.

"at the mercy of"

This phrase is used to convey a sense of vulnerability or dependence on someone else's actions or decisions.

Examples:

The small country was at the mercy of the invading army.
As a hostage, she was at the mercy of her captors.
Being at the mercy of the weather, the event had to be postponed.
The villagers were at the mercy of the ruthless landlord.
The survival of the endangered species is at the mercy of conservation efforts.

Show examples from the web [+]

You live at the mercy of forces outside your control...
I'm at the mercy of this madman.
European gas consumers cannot be left at the mercy of monopolies.
We know that thousands of women are literally at the mercy of slave traders.
These days, workers are at the mercy of frequent and risky employment transitions.
In fact, I ran away, leaving Francesca at the mercy of the hyena.
You left me at the mercy of those Kandorians.
Killing you at the mercy of a noble fish.
Without Joaquin we are at the mercy of Chakal.
It's lethal, it leaves your heart at the mercy of another.
This places them at the mercy of those who dominate the Irish meat industry.
Thus, immigrants are at the mercy of employers.
The kidnapped Estonians are, however, still at the mercy of their abductors.
The capital markets are still at the mercy of their excesses.
He's in the dark, at the mercy of whatever is out there.
So there I was... ...at the mercy of three monstrous trolls.
I'm at the mercy of the Holmes brothers.
I'm not going to leave an officer the caliber of Jack Dawkins stranded at the mercy of Colombian rebels.
I'm at the mercy of a nurse that doesn't speak English.
If they were denied this facility they would be even more at the mercy of those that operate monopolies and cartels in the Irish cattle trade.

This phrase is not a standard expression in English. It is not commonly used to convey the idea of being under someone else's power or influence.

"at the control of"

Show examples from the web [+]

I have at the control of my right foot 641 brake horsepower.
Rome is at the control of a toxic train heading for downtown Los Angeles.
As far as telecommunication service providers are concerned, the monitoring of telecommunications is however a debatable question, either aimed at the control of content protected by intellectual property rights or other illegal content.
Soon enough, you'll be at the controls of your own shuttle.
We've just learned that 26-year rail company veteran Judd Stewart is at the controls of the engine that is in front of the runaway train.
Mr President, I greatly regret the fact that it seems many fellow Members, before making their speeches, did not seek the advice of professionals - people who have spent several thousand hours at the controls of an aircraft.
During flight, at least one qualified flight crew member shall remain at the controls of the aircraft at all times.
For Ipson it was not an enormous loss. Pulat took any chance he could to sit at the controls of a small plane and taxi it in small circles until the fuel was exhausted.
That is me at the control panel of my fusion reactor.
remain at the controls of the aircraft at all times except if another pilot is taking the controls.
Mr President, the proposed changes to the EU's weapons directive are aimed at improving the control of weapons.
I'm at the controls when all of a sudden, something goes terribly wrong.
I'm at the controls when all of a sudden, something goes terribly wrong.
The financing of actions aimed at the control and protection of stray dogs has been addressed by the Commission in the reply to Written Question E-6744/10.
These assets were at that time under the control of ESA.
Such measures should be similar to those established at Community level for the control of other pig diseases such as swine vesicular disease and classical swine fever.
This research should be in line with the DIVA strategy and be aimed at facilitating the control of the disease and the sale of the products derived from vaccinated animals.
It shall be conducted at and under the control of a maintenance organisation appropriately approved for the maintenance of the particular aircraft type and shall be assessed by designated assessors appropriately qualified.
Thereafter the importer must keep the certificate at the disposal of the control body and, as appropriate the control authority, for not less than two years.
(2) The CCAMLR adopted a number of amendments to the scheme and to a related resolution aiming at improving the control of landings, imports, exports, re-exports and transhipments of Dissostichus spp. and at harmonising the implementation thereof.

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at the mercy of vs at the control of

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