yank someone's chain
to tease or trick someone
English · United States 329
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in the US — distinctly American usage first, then widespread staples.
Yankee dime
a ten-cent tip, considered stingy
yardarm it
to hang someone or something from the yardarm of a ship
yardarm to
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
yardarm to yardarm
Completely, from one end to the other
ye gods
An expression of surprise or shock
yea and amen
Complete agreement or confirmation
yea or nay
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
yeah, yeah
used to express skepticism or impatience
year dot
a very long time ago
yell silently
to be extremely angry but not express it openly
yellow brick road
A path to success or a way to achieve one's goals
yellow grease
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
yellow journalism
Sensationalized reporting that prioritizes attention over facts
yellow journalist
A journalist who uses sensationalism to attract readers
yellow light
a warning or caution signal
yellow press
Sensationalized or lurid journalism
yellow state
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
yeoman's service
Valuable help or assistance
yes and no
An answer that is both affirmative and negative
yes man
Someone who agrees with everything
yes or no
Requiring a simple yes or no answer
yes to death
completely and utterly agree
yes, Virginia
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
yield the ghost
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
yield up the ghost
To die or stop functioning
yin and yang
Two complementary opposites that interact and balance each other
you all
a polite way to address a group of people
you are never too old to learn
It's always possible to acquire new knowledge or skills
you are what you eat
Your health and character are influenced by your diet
you bet
used to express strong agreement or confirmation
you can have too much of a good thing
Excessive amounts of something pleasant can become unpleasant
you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink
You can provide someone with opportunity, but you cannot force them to take it
you can never tell
It is impossible to predict what will happen.
you can't be half pregnant
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
you can't judge a book by its cover
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
you can't polish a turd
Something inherently bad or flawed cannot be improved
you can't say fairer than that
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
you can't step in the same river twice
Nothing remains the same forever
you cannot always get what you want
You may not always achieve your desires
you cannot burn a candle at both ends
You cannot exhaust yourself by doing too many things at once.
you cannot get blood out of a stone
You cannot get something from someone who is unable or unwilling to give it
you cannot have your cake and eat it too
You cannot enjoy two mutually exclusive things at the same time
you cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear
You cannot create something valuable from something of poor quality
you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs
Some harm or damage is unavoidable to achieve a goal
you cannot make bricks without straw
You need the right materials to accomplish something
you cannot push a rope
You cannot force someone to act or make progress
you cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
You cannot support two opposing sides at the same time
you cannot unscramble eggs
Some actions cannot be undone
you cannot win them all
Not every attempt will be successful
you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
Kindness is more effective than harshness in achieving goals
you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain
Initial ideals can eventually give way to negative actions over time
you gals
a friendly way to address a group of women
you know it
agreement or confirmation
you know what
used to seek agreement or confirmation
you knows it
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
you lot
an informal way to refer to a group of people
you man
expressing agreement or confirmation
you may as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb
It's just as bad to commit a small offense as a large one
you must have rocks in your head
To be foolish or crazy