Y.
** the Y. (colloq.): the Y.M.C.A. or Y.W.C.A. (Young Men’s/Women’s Christian Association) (facilities) >The Y. put on a real good Christmas program. >He’s been staying at the Y.
YA
** ya (yә) (colloq.): you (when unstressed) >Ya know I love ya. >Ya gotta do what’s right for you.
YACK
— yack (see “YAK”)
— yack it up (see “YAK it up”)
YACKETY-YACK
— yackety-yack (see “YAKETY-YAK”)
YACKY
— yacky (see “YAKKY”)
YAHOO
— yahoo (yä´hū) (sl.): obnoxiously unsophisticated or uneducated person >What makes that yahoo think he knows what wine to order with this dish?
YAK
* yak (yak) (vi) (sl.): talk or converse (esp. idly or at length), chat >He was yakkin’ at us about his in-laws. >We yakked for about an hour, then took off.
— yak it up (sl.): converse idly or at length >They stood on the corner yakkin’ it up for over two hours.
YAKETY-YAK
— yakety-yak (yak´i tē yak´) (sl.): talk or conversation (esp. when idle or lengthy), chatter >I’m tired of all this yakety-yak about the problem—now what are we gonna do about it?
YAKKY
— yakky (yak´ē) (sl.): overly talkative >Hey, tell that yakky friend of yours to cool it for a while, will ya?
Y’ALL
* y’all (yôl) (colloq.): you (plural) >Hey, guys, what’ve y’all been up to? >This here pie’s for y’all.
YANK
* yank (vt) (colloq.): remove suddenly or vigorously >He started acting weird, so they yanked him from the class. >The network got a bunch of complaints about the show, so they yanked it.
— yank [s/one’s] chain (sl.): harass [s/one], provoke [s/one] >You keep yankin’ his chain and he’s gonna come after ya.
YAP
— yap1 (yap) (sl.): mouth (esp. as an instrument of foolish, irritating, or indiscreet talk) >You keep your big yap shut about this!
— yap2 (vi) (sl.): speak foolishly or irritatingly, speak indiscreetly >What’s that moron yappin’ about? >I don’t wanna listen to her yap about her aches and pains. >Don’t go yappin’ about our plans.
YARDS
— the whole nine yards (see NINE)
YARN
— spin a yarn (see SPIN)
YAY
** yay! (yā) (colloq.): hooray! (interj. to express joy or approval) >Yay! We won! >Yay for our team!
YEA
— yea! (see YAY)
— yea ... (yā) (colloq.): so ..., this ... (used with a gesture to indicate size) >The trout was yea long. >He’s about yea tall.
YEAH
** yeah (ye´ә/ya´ә) (colloq.): yes >Yeah, I’ll do it.
** oh, yeah? (colloq.): I don’t believe it! I won’t allow it! I challenge you about that! >Oh, yeah? You were a big football star? >Oh, yeah? Just try it and you’ll see what happens to you!
YELLOW
— yellow (sl.): cowardly, afraid >He won’t fight because he’s yellow.
— turn yellow (sl.): become a coward, become afraid >I bet he turns yellow at the first sign of trouble.
YELLOW-BELLIED
— yellow-bellied (sl.): cowardly >Don’t expect that yellow-bellied wimp to stand up for ya.
YELLOWBELLY
— yellowbelly (sl.): coward >That yellowbelly just turned and ran.
YEN
* yen (yen) (colloq.): craving, special liking, desire >He’s got a yen for tall redheads. >I got a yen for popcorn right now.
— yen for (colloq.): yearn for, desire, crave >I yen for a nice quiet weekend fishing in the mountains.
YEP
** yep (yep) (colloq.): yes >Yep, that’s right.
YES
* yes sirree! (... sә rē´) (colloq.): of course! absolutely! >Yes sirree! I can do it.
YES-MAN
* yes-man (colloq.): person who always expresses agreement with a superior, servile flatterer >He’s so damn arrogant because he’s surrounded by yes-men.
YESTERDAY
* yesterday (colloq., hum.): right away (regarding when s/thing is needed) >What do you mean, when do I need your report? I need it yesterday!
— wasn’t born yesterday (see BORN)
YIKES
* yikes! (yīks) (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise or fright) >Yikes! I almost stepped on that snake!
YING-YANG
— have ... up the ying-yang (... ying´yang´) (sl., freq. vulg.): have an abundance of ..., have ... in large supply >I don’t need no more credit cards—I got credit cards up the ying-yang as it is.
YIPES
— yipes! (yīps) (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise or fright) >Yipes! This floor is real slippery!
YIPPEE
* yippee! (yip´ē´) (colloq.): (interj. to express joy or triumph) >Yippee! I won!
YO
* yo! (yō) (colloq.): hey! hello! >Yo, Billy! Come here for a second. >Yo! What do you want?
YOKEL
— local yokel (see LOCAL)
YOO-HOO
* yoo-hoo! (yū´hū´) (colloq.): (interj. to attract s/one’s attention) >Yoo-hoo, Babs! I’m over here.
YOU
** you guys (... gīz) (colloq.): you (plural) >What are you guys doing? >Betty, Sue! You guys come with me.
— you know (see KNOW)
YOU-ALL
* you-all (colloq.): you (plural) >You-all come back and visit us again. >Why was he yelling at you-all?
YOURS
* up yours! (vulg.): (interj. to express great anger or contempt to s/one) >That’s bullshit! Up yours!
YO-YO
* yo-yo (yō´yō´) (sl.): contemptibly foolish or stupid person >I don’t wanna work with that yo-yo again.
YUCK
— yuck (see “YUK”)
** yuck! (yuk) (sl.): (interj. to express disgust or repugnance) >Yuck! What is that slimy stuff floatin’ on top?
YUCKY
* yucky (yuk´ē) (sl.): disgusting, repugnant >Get your yucky work clothes off the bed!
YUK
— yuk1 (yuk) (sl.): loud and hearty laugh >I whispered the joke to him, but he let out this big yuk that everyone could hear.
— yuk2 (vi) (sl.): laugh (esp. loudly and heartily) >That idiot sits there yukkin’ at everything everybody says.
— yuk! (see “YUCK!”)
— yuk it up (sl.): laugh and joke (esp. continuously) >He was yukkin’ it up with his buddies all night.
YUKKY
— yukky (see “YUCKY”)
YUMMY
* yummy (yum´ē) (colloq.): very delicious or appetizing, very attractive >She makes yummy chocolate chip cookies. >Who’s that yummy brunette he’s with?
YUPPIE
** Yuppie (yup´ē) (colloq., freq. pej.): young urban professional (esp. one who is affluent, trend-conscious, and materialistic) (also adj.) >Every Yuppie dreams of owning a B.M.W. and a condo. >She orders all her Yuppie clothes from some expensive catalog.