"at the control of" vs "at the mercy of"

Question

"at the control of" vs "at the mercy 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

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.

Answer 1

at the control of

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.

Answer 2

at the mercy of

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

"at the control of" vs "at the mercy of"

at the control of

at the mercy of

Related Comparisons