Idioms for daily use (Y)

Yank my chain
If some one says this to another person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for
the other person to leave the person who said it alone and to stop bothering
them.
 

Year dot/ Year one
“The Year Dot” or “The Year One is used when you’re talking about a very, very
long time ago.
 

Year in, year out
If something has happened year in, year out, it has happened every year for
many years in a row.
 

Yellow journalism (USA)
Journalism in which sensational stories are used to boost sales, or biased
reporting is used to change the reader’s views on an issue. Both of these are
unethical.
 

Yellow press
The yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalist newspapers.
 

Yellow streak
If someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly about something.
 

Yellow-bellied
A yellow-bellied person is a coward.
 

Yen
If you have a yen to do something, you have a desire to do it.
 

Yes-man
Someone who always agrees with people in authority is a yes-man.
 

Yesterday's man or Yesterday's woman
Someone, especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over or on the
decline is yesterday's man or woman.
 

You are what you eat
This is used to emphasise the importance of a good diet as a key to good health.
 

You asked for it! - informal
 

You can say “You asked for it!” when you think someone deserves the
punishment they are getting or the trouble they are in.
You bet / you bet your boots / you bet your life - informal
 

You can say “you bet”, “you bet your boots” or “ you bet
 

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and
flattery than if you are confrontational.
 

You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family
Some things you can choose, but others you cannot, so you have to try to make
the best of what you have where you have no choice.