Y

year after year for many years, one after

another. We go to the same place for our

vacation year after year. I seem to earn

the same salary year after year.

year in, year out year after year, all year

long. I seem to have hay fever year in,

year out. I never get over it. John wears

the same old suit, year in, year out.

year round Go to (all) year round.

years running Go to days running.

yield the right-of-way to give the right to

turn or move forward to another person

or vehicle. (See also have the right-of-

way.) When you’re driving, it’s better

to yield the right-of-way than to have a

wreck. You must always yield the right-

of-way when you’re making a left turn.

a yoke around someone’s neck something

that oppresses people; a burden. John’s

greedy children are a yoke around his neck.

The Smiths have a huge mortgage that

has become a yoke around their neck.

You bet (your boots)! and You can bet

on it! Surely!; Absolutely! (Informal.)

BILL: Coming to the meeting next Satur-

day? BOB: You bet! You bet your boots

I’ll be there!

You can bet on it! Go to You bet (your

boots)!

You can say that again! and You said it!

That is true!; You are correct! (Informal.

The word that is emphasized.) MARY:

It sure is hot today. JANE: You can say that

again! BILL: This cake is yummy! BOB:

You said it!

You can’t please everyone. It is not pos-

sible to make everyone happy. (Said when

dismissing a complaint or when someone

has pointed out a flaw that cannot be fixed.)

When Jean complained about

the choices on the dinner menu, the waiter

said, “Sorry. You can’t please everyone.”

Jerry reported that many of his friends had

noticed that the colors of the walls in the

living room clashed. His mother said, “Oh,

well. You can’t please everyone.”

You can’t take it with you. You should use

your money now, because it is no good

when you’re dead. (Proverb.) My un-

cle is a wealthy miser. I keep telling him,

“You can’t take it with you.” If you have

money, you should make out a will. You

can’t take it with you, you know!

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Old people cannot learn anything new.

(Proverb. Also used literally of dogs.)

“Of course I can learn,” bellowed Uncle

John. “Who says you can’t teach an old dog

new tricks?” I’m sorry. I can’t seem to

learn to do it right. Oh, well. You can’t

teach an old dog new tricks.

You got me there. I do not know the an-

swer to your question. (In other persons

also.) You got me there. I don’t know.

You got me there. I have no idea what

the answer is.

You just don’t get it! You really don’t see

what people are trying to tell you! (In

other persons also.) Everyone says that

you are a bore, but you just don’t get it!

You just don’t get it! People avoid you be-

cause you offend them.

you know as you are aware, or should be

aware. (Informal. This should not be

overused.) This is a very valuable book,

you know. Goldfish can be overfed, you

know.

You said it! Go to You can say that again!

You scared me out of my wits. Go to You

scared the hell out of me.

You scared the crap out of me. Go to You

scared the hell out of me.

You scared the devil out of me. Go to

You scared the hell out of me.

You scared the dickens out of me. Go

to You scared the hell out of me.

You scared the hell out of me. and You

scared the crap out of me.; You

scared the dickens out of me.; You

scared the devil out of me.; You

scared me out of my wits.; You scared

the pants off (of ) me. You frightened

me very badly. (In other persons also.)

He scared the hell out of all of us.

She really scared the pants off of me.

You scared the pants off (of ) me. Go to

You scared the hell out of me.

You scratch my back and I’ll scratch

yours. You do a favor for me and I’ll do

a favor for you.; If you do something for

me that I cannot do for myself, I will do

something for you that you cannot do for

yourself. (Also literal.) I’ll grab the box

on the top shelf if you will creep under the

table and pick up my pen. You scratch my

back, and I’ll scratch yours. Politicians

are always saying to one another, “You

scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”

You think you’re so smart! You act as if

you knew far more than you do! (In other

persons also.) You think you’re so

smart! You don’t know anything! Boy!

He thinks he’s so smart!

Your guess is as good as mine. Your an-

swer is likely to be as correct as mine. (In-

formal.) I don’t know where the scis-

sors are. Your guess is as good as mine.

Your guess is as good as mine as to when

the train will arrive.

Your secret is safe with me. I will not tell

your secret to anyone. Don’t worry. I

won’t tell. Your secret’s safe with me.

Your secret is safe with me. I will carry it

to my grave.

yours truly 1. a polite closing phrase at the

end of a letter, just before the signature.

Yours truly, Tom Jones Best wishes

from yours truly, Bill Smith 2. oneself; I;

me. (Informal.) There’s nobody here

right now but yours truly. Everyone else

got up and left the table leaving yours truly

to pay the bill.