at the mercy of

Idioms  

1. Also, at someone's mercy . Subject to the power of, helpless against, as in The captured rebels were at the mercy of the army commander . [Late 1500s]

2. Without any protection against, as in On top of Mount Washington we were at the mercy of the elements . [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

“Working for the camera, we’re at the mercy of the editing process,” Lindo notes.

From Los Angeles Times

As youngsters being drafted into the NFL are at the mercy of circumstance, not every team will fit every rookie and the sport's history is littered with college stars deemed not good enough.

From BBC

Seafarers like Ivan are often at the mercy of the contracts available.

From BBC

From what I’d heard about “cowboys,” they lived like slaves in their masters’ homes and spent their days under the scorching sun or in the rain at the mercy of snakes and scorpions, getting nothing in return but room and board for several years.

From Literature

One plane crash later, the tables are turned, with the injured Bradley now at the mercy of Linda and her survival skills on a tropical island.

From Los Angeles Times