XYZ -Idioms
X
X marks the spot
- this is the exact spot
We looked at the map and saw that X marked the spot where the accident had taken place.
Y
yakety-yak
- a lot of talk about little things
We spent the whole evening in a yakety-yak session at my friends.
year after year
- for many years, one year after another
We went to the lake year after year until we finally got tired of it.
year in, year out
- every year
Year in and year out the city had to spend money to fix the old stadium.
year round
- during the entire year
We usually spend all summer at a year-round vacation resort.
yellow-bellied
- extremely timid, cowardly
He is a yellow-bellied person who is not good to have as a friend.
yellow journalism
- cheap and overly sensational newspaper writing
The article in the paper about the scandal was a good example of yellow journalism.
yellow streak
- cowardice in a person`s character
He has a yellow streak and will not help defend his friends.
yes-man
- a person who tries to be liked by agreeing with everything someone says (especially by a boss)
He is a yes-man who will do anything that his boss asks him to do.
yield the right-of-way
- give the right to turn or move to another vehicle
We were forced to yield the right-of-way to the fire engine at the intersection.
yoke around someone's neck
- a burden for someone
The complaints from the apartment manager were a yoke around our neck for several weeks.
You bet!/You bet your boots!/You bet your life!
- most certainly, without any doubt
"You bet your life I will be attending the conference next year."
You can't please everyone.
- it is not possible to make everyone happy
You can't please everyone and somebody in the class was always unhappy with what the teacher chose to do. You can't take it with you.
- use your money and enjoy life now because when you die it is no good
You can't take it with you and you should enjoy your money and life while you have the chance.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
- people become used to their way of doing things and you can't get them to change
You can't teach an old dog new tricks and my grandfather will never miss drinking a glass of milk before he goes to bed. You don`t say!
- used to show surprise at what is said
"You don`t say", he said when he heard about the accident on the highway.
You got me there.
- I don't know the answer to your question.
"You got me there. What do you think the answer is?"
You said it!/You can say that again!
- that's true, you're right (used to show strong agreement with what another person has said)
"You can say that again," I answered when the woman mentioned how hot it was out in the sun.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
- if you will do me a favor, I will do you a favor
The construction industry is known for its practice of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
You`re telling me!
- used to show that a thing is so clear that it doesn't need to be said
"This restaurant is very expensive and the food is not so good."
"You`re telling me."
Your guess is as good as mine.
- your guess or answer is as likely to be correct as mine
"Your guess is as good as mine," I answered when my friend asked me how to use the video player
Your secret is safe with me.
- I won't tell anyone your secret
"Your secret is safe with me", I told my friend when he told me about his problems.
yours truly
- oneself, I, me
I told my friend that if he wanted to borrow some money he could talk to yours truly.
yours truly
- a polite phrase to end a letter
I usually end my letters with "Yours sincerely" but sometimes I use "Yours truly."
You tell`em!
- used to agree with or encourage someone in what they are saying
"You tell`em," I yelled out to the politician who was making the speech.
Z
zero hour
- the exact time when an attack or other military action will start
The air force planes waited until zero hour in order to start out on their bombing mission.
zero hour
- the time when an important decision or change is supposed to come
We waited for zero hour and the time when the new computer system was supposed to begin operating.
zero in on
- adjust a gun so that it will hit a target, aim at something
The soldiers zeroed in on the target and began to fire their guns.
zero in on
- give one`s full attention to
We zeroed in on the problem of what to do with the excess space in our office.
zero-sum game
- a situation where if one person wins or gains something then another person must lose
It was a zero-sum game with the manager and someone had to win or lose.
zonk out
- fall asleep very quickly
As soon as I got home last night I immediately zonked out.
zoom in on (someone or something)
- use a zoom lens to get a closer view of someone or something when taking a photograph
The cameraman zoomed in on the players on the field.
X marks the spot
- this is the exact spot
We looked at the map and saw that X marked the spot where the accident had taken place.
Y
yakety-yak
- a lot of talk about little things
We spent the whole evening in a yakety-yak session at my friends.
year after year
- for many years, one year after another
We went to the lake year after year until we finally got tired of it.
year in, year out
- every year
Year in and year out the city had to spend money to fix the old stadium.
year round
- during the entire year
We usually spend all summer at a year-round vacation resort.
yellow-bellied
- extremely timid, cowardly
He is a yellow-bellied person who is not good to have as a friend.
yellow journalism
- cheap and overly sensational newspaper writing
The article in the paper about the scandal was a good example of yellow journalism.
yellow streak
- cowardice in a person`s character
He has a yellow streak and will not help defend his friends.
yes-man
- a person who tries to be liked by agreeing with everything someone says (especially by a boss)
He is a yes-man who will do anything that his boss asks him to do.
yield the right-of-way
- give the right to turn or move to another vehicle
We were forced to yield the right-of-way to the fire engine at the intersection.
yoke around someone's neck
- a burden for someone
The complaints from the apartment manager were a yoke around our neck for several weeks.
You bet!/You bet your boots!/You bet your life!
- most certainly, without any doubt
"You bet your life I will be attending the conference next year."
You can't please everyone.
- it is not possible to make everyone happy
You can't please everyone and somebody in the class was always unhappy with what the teacher chose to do. You can't take it with you.
- use your money and enjoy life now because when you die it is no good
You can't take it with you and you should enjoy your money and life while you have the chance.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
- people become used to their way of doing things and you can't get them to change
You can't teach an old dog new tricks and my grandfather will never miss drinking a glass of milk before he goes to bed. You don`t say!
- used to show surprise at what is said
"You don`t say", he said when he heard about the accident on the highway.
You got me there.
- I don't know the answer to your question.
"You got me there. What do you think the answer is?"
You said it!/You can say that again!
- that's true, you're right (used to show strong agreement with what another person has said)
"You can say that again," I answered when the woman mentioned how hot it was out in the sun.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
- if you will do me a favor, I will do you a favor
The construction industry is known for its practice of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
You`re telling me!
- used to show that a thing is so clear that it doesn't need to be said
"This restaurant is very expensive and the food is not so good."
"You`re telling me."
Your guess is as good as mine.
- your guess or answer is as likely to be correct as mine
"Your guess is as good as mine," I answered when my friend asked me how to use the video player
Your secret is safe with me.
- I won't tell anyone your secret
"Your secret is safe with me", I told my friend when he told me about his problems.
yours truly
- oneself, I, me
I told my friend that if he wanted to borrow some money he could talk to yours truly.
yours truly
- a polite phrase to end a letter
I usually end my letters with "Yours sincerely" but sometimes I use "Yours truly."
You tell`em!
- used to agree with or encourage someone in what they are saying
"You tell`em," I yelled out to the politician who was making the speech.
Z
zero hour
- the exact time when an attack or other military action will start
The air force planes waited until zero hour in order to start out on their bombing mission.
zero hour
- the time when an important decision or change is supposed to come
We waited for zero hour and the time when the new computer system was supposed to begin operating.
zero in on
- adjust a gun so that it will hit a target, aim at something
The soldiers zeroed in on the target and began to fire their guns.
zero in on
- give one`s full attention to
We zeroed in on the problem of what to do with the excess space in our office.
zero-sum game
- a situation where if one person wins or gains something then another person must lose
It was a zero-sum game with the manager and someone had to win or lose.
zonk out
- fall asleep very quickly
As soon as I got home last night I immediately zonked out.
zoom in on (someone or something)
- use a zoom lens to get a closer view of someone or something when taking a photograph
The cameraman zoomed in on the players on the field.
