An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase.
Here are the list of idioms starting with Y.
Idioms Starting with Y
1. Yah boo sucks
Meaning: Yah boo & yah boo sucks can be used to show that you have no sympathy with someone.
2. Yank my chain
Meaning: 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.
3. Yellow press
Meaning: The yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalist newspapers.
4. Yellow streak
Meaning: If someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly about something.
5. Yellow-bellied
Meaning: A yellow-bellied person is a coward.
6. Yen
Meaning: If you have a yen to do something, you have a desire to do it.
7. Yes-man
Meaning: Someone who always agrees with people in authority is a yes-man.
8. Yesterday’s man or Yesterday’s woman
Meaning: Someone, especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over or on the decline is yesterday’s man or woman.
9. You are what you eat
Meaning: This is used to emphasize the importance of a good diet as a key to good health.
10. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
Meaning: This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.
11. You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family
Meaning: 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.
12. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink
Meaning: This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it.
13. You can say that again
Meaning: If you want to agree strongly with what someone has said, you can say ‘You can say that again’ as a way of doing so.
14. You can’t fight City Hall
Meaning: This phrase is used when one is so cynical that one doesn’t think one can change their Representatives. The phrase must have started with frustration towards a local body of government.
15. You can’t have cake and the topping, too
Meaning: This idiom means that you can’t have everything the way you want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.
16. You can’t have your cake and eat it
Meaning: This idiom means that you can’t have things both ways. For example, you can’t have very low taxes and a high standard of state care.
17. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear
Meaning: If something isn’t very good to start with, you can’t do much to improve it.
18. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs
Meaning: This idiom means that in order to achieve something or make progress, there are often losers in the process.
19. You can’t take it with you
Meaning: Enjoy life, enjoy what you have and don’t worry about not having a lot, especially money…because once you’re dead, ‘you can’t take it with you.’ For some, it means to use up all you have before you die because it’s no use to you afterwards.
20. You can’t unring a bell
Meaning: This means that once something has been done, you have to live with the consequences as it can’t be undone.
21. You could have knocked me down with a feather
Meaning: This idiom is used to mean that the person was very shocked or surprised.
22. You do not get a dog and bark yourself
Meaning: If there is someone in a lower position who can or should do a task, then you shouldn’t do it.
23. You get what you pay for
Meaning: Something that is very low in price is not usually of very good quality.
24. You reap what you sow
Meaning: This means that if you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you, or good things if you do good things. It is normally used when someone has done something bad.
25. You said it!
Meaning: Used to say you agree completely with something just said.
26. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
Meaning: This idiom means that if you do something for me, I’ll return the favor.
27. You what?
Meaning: This is a very colloquial way of expressing surprise or disbelief at something you have heard. It can also be used to ask someone to say something again.
28. You’re toast
Meaning: If someone tells you that you are toast, you are in a lot of trouble.
29. You’ve got rocks in your head
Meaning: Someone who has acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head.
30. You’ve made your bed- you’ll have to lie in it
Meaning: This means that someone will have to live with the consequences of their own actions.
31. Young blood
Meaning: Young people with new ideas and fresh approaches are young blood.
32. Young Turk
Meaning: A Young Turk is a young person who is rebellious and difficult to control in a company, team or organization.
33. Your belly button is bigger than your stomach
Meaning: If your belly button is bigger than your stomach, you take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
34. Your call
Meaning: If something is your call, it is up to you to make a decision on the matter.
35. Your name is mud
Meaning: If someone’s name is mud, then they have a bad reputation.
36. Your sins will find you out
Meaning: This idiom means that things you do wrong will become known.
Also Read ==>>
- 20+ Idioms Starting with V | List with Meaning
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- 20+ Idioms Starting with X | List with Meaning
