Xx x noun an empty railway wagon US, 1946 X noun 1 MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy. Generally an abbreviated ‘ecstasy’ specifically used of any MDMA tablet stamped with a symbol that may be read as an X US, 1988. 2 marijuana UK, 2003. 3 in blackjack, any card worth ten points. A Roman numeral used by card counters US, 1991. 4 a cross-breed of a dog CANADA, 1997. 5 a grip on all illegal gambling US, 1974 8see: GENERATION XER. < the X in the circus or carnival, exclusive rights for an item or concession US, 1980 X verb to take MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy US, 1985 X adjective 1 annoyed, irritated, angry. A pun on ‘cross’ UK, 1962. 2 in drag racing, experimental. The designation FX means an experi- mental car from a factory; MX means an experimental component from a manufacturer US, 1970 x-double-minus adjective very bad. Alluding to a non-existent grading scale US, 1968 x-dressing noun cross-dressing UK, 2003 Xer noun 8see: GENERATION XER X-Files noun haemorrhoids. Rhyming slang for PILES,formedonUS television science-fiction/conspiracy drama The X-Files first broadcast in 1993 UK, 1998 X-Files E noun a tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy, branded with a borrowed logo. After The X Files, a cult science fiction televison programme from the mid-1990s, playing on X (E) UK, 1996 x-ing noun MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy UK, 1998 X marks the spot used as a caption or legend to a specific location (marked with a cross) on a map or in a photograph. Of catchphrase status although rarely spoken. Familiar uses include: the scene of the crime, a hotel window on a postcard and pirate treasure maps UK, 1968 Xmas noun Christmas. Pronounced ‘Exmas’. Originally pronounced as ‘Christmas’, derived from Greek, the initial letter of Christos, yet is generally presumed to be a coinage of modern marketing and, while widely recognised, remains an unconventional usage UK, 1755 X queen noun a homosexual male who is a frequent user of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy US, 1994 x-ray eyes noun the sense of intuition of a poker player who can ascertain the hands held by other players US, 1988 X-row noun the area in a prison housing inmates condemned to death US, 1992 xs and os noun the basic elements of a plan. From play diagrams in basketball, football or other sports, in which the xs represent the players of one team, and the os represent players of the other US, 1984 XT C noun MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy. Pronounced ‘ecstasy’ US, 1985 Xvidnoun a sexually explicit video US, 1992 XX noun a twenty-dollar note US, 1982 XY noun a spouse. A mutual abbreviation from XYL (a wife) and XYM (a husband) US, 1976 XYL noun a wife. A partial acronym: ‘ex-young lady’ US, 1976 XYM noun a husband. A partial acronym: ‘ex-young-man’ US, 1976 XYZ noun a citizens’ band radio user of undiscovered gender; hence, a homosexual. By extension from XYL (a wife) and XYM (a husband) US, 1976 XYZ used to alert someone that their fly zipper is open. A partial acronym: ‘examine your zippers US, 1999 Yy Y noun < the Y a premises of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) or Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA); also the YMCA or YWCA organisation US, 1915 Y2K noun 1 the year 2000; the first second of the year 2000. Y (year) plus 2xK (2000) CANADA, 1995. 2 used as the first three characters for any year between 2001 and 2009 INDIA, 2004 yaba noun paramethoxyamphetamine, PMA. A phonetic approxi- mation (perhaps Thai or Burmese), literally ‘crazy medicine’, by which name it is also known, 2002 yabba noun methamphetamine in pill form when taken as a rec- reational drug UK, 2001 yabba-dabba doo! used as a cry of exultation. The Flintstones,a US television animation-comedy, first broadcast in 1960, introduced ‘yabba-dabba-doo!’ as a catchphrase. ‘A yabba-dabba doo time’ (an excellent time) comes directly from the theme song, ‘The Flintstones: Rise and Shine’, written by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the show’s creators. As a noun, ‘yabba-dabba doo’ means ‘exuberance’ US, 1998 yabber noun a conversation; a chat AUSTRALIA, 1855 yabber verb to talk, converse, chat, now especially used of unintelligible language that is annoying; hence, to chatter, blabber, be noisy. Originally used in Australian pidgin. From an Australian Aboriginal language, possibly the Wuywurung language of the Melbourne region AUSTRALIA, 1841 yabbering noun talk, conversation AUSTRALIA, 1847 yabby noun an Australian freshwater crayfish, found throughout eastern Australia and introduced into Western Australia, commonly caught for food; later applied to various other similar freshwater crayfish. From Wemba, an Australian Aboriginal language of Victoria AUSTRALIA, 1894 yabby verb to fish for freshwater crayfish. After the noun sense AUSTRALIA, 1934 yabbying noun the act of fishing for yabbies, usually with a bit of meat on a string AUSTRALIA, 1934 yack adjective sick UK, 2001 yack; yak noun 1 voluble talk. Echoic of idle chatter US, 1952. 2 ajoke US, 1951. 3 a telephone sales solicitor, either for a legitimate business or for a confidence swindle US, 1985. 4 a watch. Possibly derived from Welsh gypsy yãkengeri (a clock, literally ‘a thing of the eyes’). Still current, in second spelling, among market traders UK, 1812 yack; yak verb 1 to talk volubly and either idly or stupidly or both US, 1949. 2 to vomit US, 1992 yacker noun a swindler working on a phony investment scam by telephone US, 1988 8see: YAKKA yacker verb to talk AUSTRALIA, 1882 yackety-yack noun inconsequential talk UK, 1958 yadda yadda yadda used for suggesting meaningless conversation US, 1993 yaffle verb 1 to eat hurriedly or greedily. Originally, ‘to eat or drink’; still current in Royal Navy slang but only as ‘to eat’ UK, 1788. 2 to engage in oral sex. From the sense ‘to eat’ UK, 1998 yaffler noun a person who talks too much AUSTRALIA, 1995 yag noun yttrium aluminium garnet. Used in the diamond trade UK, 1975 yage noun ayahuasca also known as yajé, a psychedelic drink from South America US, 1999 yah boo! used as an expression of scorn or derision. A childish use UK, 1921 yah boo sucks! used as an expression of defiance, scorn or derision. Originally used by children, now childish; an elaboration of YAH BOO! UK, 1980 yahoo noun 1 an unrefined, loutish, uncultured person. An imaginary race of brutes created by Swift in Gulliver’s Travels UK, 1726. 2 crack cocaine US, 1994 yahoo! used as an exuberant expression of excitement or delight UK, 1976 yahoos noun the female breasts. Perhaps from ‘yahoo!’ as a celebratory cry US, 2001 yahso adverb here; in or to this place JAMAICA, 1995 yak noun during the Korean war, an enemy aircraft. Coined as an allusion to North Korea’s YAK-9 fighter jet US, 1991 8see: YACK yakenal noun a capsule of phentobarbital sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressant US, 1982 yakka; yacker noun work. From the now defunct verb ‘yacker’ (to work), from the Australian Aboriginal language Yagara, Brisbane region. Connection with the Ulster word ‘yokkin’ (a spell of work) is untenable. Now usually in the phrase HARD YAKKA AUSTRALIA, 1888 yakker noun 1 talk AUSTRALIA, 1961. 2 food. From Australian pidgin; possibly equating YAKKA (work) with food. Variants include ‘yack’ AUSTRALIA, 1942 yale noun crack cocaine UK, 2003 Yale noun a commerical hypodermic needle, whether or not it is manufactured by Yale US, 1973 Yalie noun a student or alumnus of Yale University US, 1952 yam verb 1 to talk too much US, 1951. 2 to eat as if famished BARBADOS, 1965 yam foot noun a foot that is broad and splayed out TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003 yammagi; yamidgee noun an Aboriginal, especially an Aboriginal male. A Western Australian Aboriginal (Watjari) term, yamaji, used generically. Variant spellings include: ‘yamagee’, ‘yamagi’, ‘yammagee’ and ‘yammogee’ AUSTRALIA, 1925 Yammie; Yammy noun a Yamaha motorcyle, in production since 1954 UK, 1999 yandy noun a shallow dish used for separating seeds from other matter AUSTRALIA, 1903 yandy verb to separate seeds from surrounding matter in a YANDY; hence, in tin-mining, to pan. Such work is done by a ‘yandier’ AUSTRALIA, 1914 yang noun 1 the penis. From the masculine principle in the Chinese philosophy of yin-yang US, 1983. 2 the rectum US, 1974 yang-yang adjective of a horse, lively or spirited AUSTRALIA, 1976 Yank noun 1 an American. Originally a New Englander or someone from the northern states of America. An abbreviation of YANKEE; often derogatory UK, 1778. 2 an American bird. Bird-watching slang UK, 1977 yank verb to tug something with sudden energy; to remove something US, 1848 yank and bank verb to execute a turn in a fighter plane US, 1986 yankee noun a multiple bet, gambling on four different horses in a specific combination of eleven bets UK, 1967 Yankee noun 1 a native or inhabitant of New England; hence, more generally, of the northern states of America. The most likely deri- vation is from Dutch Janke, a diminutive of Jan (John) as a pejorative nickname; also possible is a North American Indian corruption of ‘English’; or Cherokee eankke (a slave, a coward). Used by the Confederates of the Federal army during the American Civil War, 1861–65, and since by the south of the north US, 1765. 2 a tool used by car thieves to pull out the cyclinder of the ignition lock UK, 1977 Yankee adjective American UK, 1781 Yankee-bashing noun an act of engaging US servicemen in sexual activity. Well-used by members of the Women’s Royal Army Corps in Hong Kong during the 1960s UK, 1984 Yankee clipper noun a North American moving van US, 1976 yankee dime noun akissUS, 1900 Yankeeland noun the United States of America UK, 2000 Yankee shout noun a social outing where everyone pays for themselves AUSTRALIA, 1945 Yankee tournament noun a sporting contest in which everyone plays everyone else. An Australian nuance of YANKEE (American) as ‘equal for all’ AUSTRALIA, 1961 Yanking noun an act of engaging US servicemen in sexual activity. Formed on YANK (an American) UK, 1950 Yank tank noun a large car, especially one manufactured in the US AUSTRALIA, 1981 ya-o noun crack cocaine US, 1995 yaoh noun cocaine UK, 1999 yap noun 1 the mouth US, 1900. 2 inconsequential talk US, 1907. 3 in circus and carnival usage, a naive, gullible local resident US, 1981 yap verb to talk incessantly. The term existed in this sense in C19 English dialect, and then independently arose in the US in the 1920s UK, 1886 yapper, snapper, and crapper noun oral, vaginal and anal sex with a woman. A clever phrase heard in jokes but rarely in real life US, 2004 yappies noun < the yappies greyhound racing or coursing. A play on THE DOGS AUSTRALIA, 1984 yappy; yappified adjective idiotic UK, 1979 yar! used as a general-purpose interjection, usually conveying excitement about something US, 1989 yarco; yark noun a member of a subcultural urban adolescent grouping in Yarmouth, Norfolk, that seems to be defined by a hip- hop dress and jewellery sense UK, 2005 yard noun 1 one hundred dollars US, 1926. 2 one thousand dollars US, 1932. 3 a prison sentence of 100 years US, 1969 . 4 a prison sentence of one year US, 1950. 5 your country, especially Jamaica UK, 1994. 6 your home, your house; in prison, your cell. West Indian and UK black JAMAICA, 1950 . 7 a member of the Montagnard tribe, the aborigine hill tribes of Vietnam’s Central Highlands US, 1991 Yard noun < the Yard Scotland Yard, subsequently New Scotland Yard, headquarters of the Metropolitan police. Originally, since 1888, used of the location of London’s Metropolitan Police; the familiar name stayed when the headquarters moved to new premises in 1967 UK, 1888 yard verb 1 to be sexually unfaithful US, 1960. 2 to get hold of someone CANADA, 1984 yardage noun a big penis US, 1970s yard-and-a-half noun one hundred and fifty dollars US, 1962 yardbird noun 1 a chicken US, 1956. 2 a prisoner, a convict US, 1965. 3 a newly arrived military recruit US, 1945. 4 in trucking, a terminal employee who moves trucks around the yard US, 1971. 5 on the railways, an injured employee assigned to limited duty in a railway yard US, 1968 Y ardbird nickname Charlie Parker, jazz saxophonist US, 1949 yard buddy noun a close friend in prison US, 1974 yard bull; yard dick noun a railway detective US, 1958. a railway detective US, 1950 yard dog noun an unsophisticated, uncouth person US, 1973 yard goose noun a railway pointsman US, 1977 yardie noun 1 a member of a violent gang culture rooted in the West Indies, especially Jamaica. Yardies have an international repu- tation for drug-related crime JAMAICA, 1986 . 2 apersonfromyour neighbourhood; a friend JAMAICA, 2003 . 3 a yardman AUSTRALIA, 1990 yard man noun a Jamaican JAMAICA, 1994 yardney noun a manner of speech combining West Indian and London accents and vocabularies. Combining YARDIE (a Jamaican gangster) and ‘Cockney’ (a stereotypical Londoner) UK, 1999 yard out verb to exercise in a prison yard US, 1984 yard sale noun in snow-based sports, the result of an accident in which equipment is deposited over a wide area US, 1995 yardstick noun a road mile marker US, 1976 yarn noun 1 a story, an adventure story, especially a long, marvellous or incredible story. Of nautical origin; from ’spin a yarn’ (to tell such a story) UK, 1812. 2 a chat, a talk, a conversation AUSTRALIA, 1852 yarn verb 1 to tell a story UK, 1812. 2 to talk; to have a chat AUSTRALIA, 1847 yarpie noun 8see: JAPIE yarra adjective mad, stupid, eccentric. From the mental asylum at Yarra Bend, Victoria AUSTRALIA, 1943 Yarra-banker noun a loafer or vagrant idling on the banks of the Yarra River, Melbourne; a Melbourne soap box orator AUSTRALIA, 1895 Yarra – stinking Yarra! used as an offensive catchphrase addressed by Sydneyites to Melbournites. Melbourne sits on the banks of the Yarra River AUSTRALIA, 1984 yassoo! used as a greeting among troops who have served in Cyprus. From Greek giasou! (an all-purpose word for ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’, ‘cheers!’). Sometimes elaborated in mock-Scots as ‘yassoo the noo!’ UK, 1984 yattie noun agirlUK, 2003 yawn noun anything which induces boredom UK, 1974 yawn verb < yawn in technicolor to vomit US, 1981 yawn said to register the speaker’s boredom, instead of actually yawning UK, 2000 yay! used as an exclamation of delight UK, 1963 yay; yayoo; yeah-O; yeyo; yeo noun crack cocaine US, 1995 Y-bone noun the vulva and vagina as an object of oral sex NEW ZEALAND , 1998 YDubnoun a premises of the YWCA (the Young Women’s Christian Association), or the organisation itself. Short for YW. Later use seems to be predominantly in New Zealand US, 1984 yea; yay adverb when describing size, and combined with an appropriate gesture: this, so US, 1960 yeah noun yes, used as a signal of assent US, 1905 yeah-yeah no. Said dismissively; a rare instance of a double affirmative producing a negative UK, 2000 year noun a one-hundred dollar note US, 1997 year blob noun a notional date that, within context, was a very long time ago. A variation of YEAR DOT UK, 1997 year dot noun a notional date long ago; time immemorial UK, 1895 yeast verb to exaggerate US, 1973 yee yes US, 1980 yegg noun a criminal, especially a burglar or safecracker. Anglicised by 1932 US, 1900 ye gods!; ye gods and little fishes! used as a mild oath, especially to express exasperation or indignation. The former dates from 1807; and elaborated with ‘little fishes’ since the 1850s. Original use was no doubt sincere but from the 1960s usage has been derisory or jocular UK, 2002 yeh noun marijuana UK, 1998 Yekke; Yekkie noun a German Jew. Derogatory. From Yiddish, but of uncertain origin UK, 1950 yeller feller; yellow feller; yellow fellow noun a person of mixed Aboriginal and white parentage AUSTRALIA, 1913 Ya nkee | yeller feller; yellow feller; yellow fellow 712 yellow noun 1 a capsule of pentobarbital sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressant; any barbiturate US, 1944. 2 LSD US, 1977 yellow adjective 1 cowardly, afraid US, 1856. 2 used to describe that section of the printed news media which tends towards the sensational, the unscrupulous and the tawdry. Derives from an 1895 experiment by the New York World in the use of colour- printing with the intent to attract more readers; a cartoon of a young girl in a yellow dress known as ‘The Yellow Kid’ US, 1898. 3 light-skinned; of mixed race US, 1934 yellow and white earth noun money CANADA, 1983 yellow bam noun 1 a capsule of pentobarbital sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressant US, 1986. 2 methamphetamine hydrochloride, a powerful central nervous system stimulant US, 1994 yellow-bellied adjective cowardly US, 1924 yellow-belly noun 1 acowardUS, 1930. 2 a person of mixed Asian and white parentage. A derogatory and racist reference to skin-tone. An earlier use, from 1842, was by Americans of Mexicans UK, 1867 yellow-belly bird noun acowardTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1960 yellow bullet noun a capsule of pentobarbital sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressant US, 1977 yellow canary noun in trucking, a Yellow Transit Freight Lines truck US, 1976 yellow dimple; yellow dimples noun LSD, especially in combi- nation with another drug US, 1982 yellow doll noun a capsule of phentobarbital sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressant US, 1977 yellow egg noun Temazapam™, a branded tranquillizer UK, 1998 yellow jacket noun 1 a barbiturate or other central nervous system depressant, especially Nembutal™ US, 1952. 2 a high-velocity, hollow- nose, expanding bullet US, 1981 yellow legs noun the US Marines. Korean war usage; coined by the North Koreans alluding to the marine leggings US, 1968 Yellow Legs noun the Royal Canadian Mounted Police CANADA, 1974 yellow pages noun in poker, a play or a bet made strictly for the purpose of creating an impression US, 1996 yellow peril noun 1 a danger (real or imagined) that armies of any and all Asiatic peoples will overrun the West. From the convention- al use of ‘yellow’ to convey an Asiatic or Oriental complexion. Usage is mainly historical but paranoia and the Internet keeps the phrase alive UK, 1900. 2 used as a collective noun for all sorts of things with a yellow connection. Mainly jocular. Used by motorcyclists of traffic wardens (from the yellow flashes on their uniforms) UK, 1943. 3 hepatitis. A peril of shared needles by drug addicts; their usage, with a pun on the fear of Asians and the skin discolouration associated with hepatitis UK, 1985. 4 in prison, school, or any canteen in any institution, a bright yellow cake favoured by the caterers. Originally services UK, 1961 Yellow Peril nickname in Canadian military aviation, the Harvard training aircraft CANADA, 1995 yellow rock noun methamphetamine in rock form, yellow in colour either because of incomplete processing or the presence of adulterants US, 1989 yellow sheet noun a criminal record. A generic in UK use, from the colour of the New York Police Department document at the time of coining US, 1992 yellow streak noun a trait of cowardice UK, 1911 yellow submarine noun marijuana. A fanciful similarity in shape between a JOINT and The Beatles’ musical cartoon creation ‘Yellow Submarine’, 1969; however, both promise a colourful journey UK, 2003 yellow sunshine; yellow cap; yellow dot noun LSD US, 1972 yells, bells and knells noun newspaper announcements of births, marriages and deaths. A journalistic summation of life; a variation of HATCH, MATCH AND DISPATCH AUSTRALIA, 1984 yen noun an intense craving, especially for a drug; an addiction UK, 1876 yen verb to crave a drug intensely. From the Chinese; originally applied to opium users US, 1919 yenems; yenams; yenhams noun free cigarettes; anything belonging to someone else. Adopted from Yiddish, possibly as early as the mid-1920s UK, 1984 yennep; yennap; yenep noun a penny. Back slang UK, 1851 yen pock noun an opium pellet US, 1934 yen pop noun marijuana US, 1950 yen pox noun opium ash US, 1957 yen-shee noun heroin. From an earlier generalised sense as ‘opium’ (which included heroin in its definition) US, 1960 Yenshee baby noun an extremely constipated bowel movement that is the product of opiate addiction. Yenshee is Chinese for ‘opium residue’ US, 1938 yen-shee-suey noun opium or heroin dissolved in wine US, 1949 yen sleep noun a drowsiness encountered by many LSD users after the effects of the drug have worn off US, 1972 yenta noun a gossip; a busybody; a scold. Yiddish US, 1923 yeola noun marijuana UK, 2003 yep yes. A variation of ‘yes’; the final plosive stresses the affirmative and gives it a semi-interjection or exclamatory sense US, 1891 yerba noun marijuana. A Mexican Spanish word that means ‘herb’ or ‘grass’, thus HERB (marijuana) or GRASS (marijuana) US, 1967 yerba mala noun poor quality marijuana; phencyclidine. Adopted from Mexican Spanish, the literal meaning is ‘bad/evil grass’; yerba beuna (good grass) is probably also used US, 1986 yerhia noun marijuana UK, 2003 yer man noun an unnamed male IRELAND, 1997 yer one noun an unnamed female IRELAND, 1997 yers pronoun a variant spelling of YOUSE AUSTRALIA, 1923 yesca; yesco noun marijuana. Directly from Spanish yesca (tinder), ‘a fuel that is burnt’ US, 1949 yes, if you’ve got the inclination; yes, but not the incli- nation used as a catchphrase response to: ‘Have you got the time?’. Also, ‘yes, if you’ve got the money’ UK, 1977 yes man; yes-man noun an obsequious subordinate; a person who agrees with everything a superior says or does UK, 1912 yessir! yes indeed US, 1913 yes siree (Bob) yes indeed US, 1846 yes sir, we’re pals, and pals stick together used as a humorous affirmation of agreement. Used as the sign-off by Ed McConnell on the Smilin’ Ed’s Gang (1950–55) children’s television programme. Repeated with referential humour US, 1955 yes sir, yes sir, three bags full used for mocking unquestioning, blind obedience. US naval aviator usage, from the children’s song ‘Ba Ba Black Sheep’ US, 1986 yessus!; yesus!; yissus! used for expressing anger, frustration, shock, surprise, etc. From the Afrikaans pronunciation of ‘Jesus’ as an oath or exclamation SOUTH AFRICA, 1942 yesterday adjective out-dated; unaware of current fashions and trends US, 1968 Yes way! used for humorously rebutting someone who has just said ‘No way!’ US, 1989 yes-woman; yes-girl noun an obsequious female subordinate; a person who agrees with everything her superior says or does. A consequence of YES MAN; originally ‘yes-girl’ had primacy but current use favours ‘yes-woman’ US, 1930 yettie noun a successful person who is young, entrepreurial and technical UK, 2000 yet to be adjective free, gratis. Rhyming slang UK, 1961 yew noun the eye. Usually in the plural UK, 2002 yeyo; jejo noun cocaine. Adopted directly from Spanish UK, 1998 713 yellow | yeyo; jejo yez pronoun you (plural). Originally only in representations of Irish speakers, but later as the typical Australian pronunciation with an unstressed vowel IRELAND, 1828 Yid noun a Jewish person. Offensive US, 1874 yiddel; yiddle noun a Jewish person US, 1946 Yiddish highway noun US Highway 301, which runs between New York and Miami, Florida US, 1979 Yid kid noun a young Jewish person US, 1978 Yidsbury nickname Finsbury, an area of north London with (traditio- nally) a large Jewish population. A combination with YID (a Jewish person) UK, 1981 yike noun a fight; an altercation AUSTRALIA, 1940 yikes! used in surprise, pain or shock. Possibly a variant of conven- tional ‘yoicks!’ or ‘crikey!’ (Christ!) US, 1971 Yim, Yoe and Yesus noun in poker, three jacks. A play on ‘Jim, Joe and Jesus’ (instead of Jack), but the reason why is unknown AUSTRALIA, 1953 yimyom noun crack cocaine UK, 1998 yin noun one, indicating a single person or thing. Often in nicknames, such as ‘Big yin ’ (Billy Connolly), ‘wee yin’, etc UK: SCOTLAND , 1911 ying noun marijuana. This word seems to derive from the combi- nation of two facts lodged in a vaguely HIPPIE philosophy: 1) the female cannabis plant is considered superior; 2) in Eastern philos- ophy, the concept of two complementary forces that make life is yin yang. ‘Yin’, mispronounced here as ‘ying’, represents the female UK, 2003 ying yang noun 1 the anus and/or rectum US, 1968. 2 the penis US, 1981. 3 a variety of LSD identified by the ying yang (yin yang) symbol UK, 1996. < up the ying yang to excess. The suggestion of ‘ying-yang’ is ‘the rectum’ US, 1976 yin-yang noun a well-known variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy, identified by the yin and yang symbols embossed on the tablet UK, 2002 yip verb to bark in a piercing and shrill manner US, 1907 yipes!; yipe! used in shock, pain or surprise. Synonymous vari- ations of YIKES! US, 1998 yippee!; yippy! used as a declaration of excitement and assent US, 1920 yippie noun a member of, or adherent (knowing or not) to, the prin- ciples of the Youth International Party, a short-lived blend of 1960s counterculture values and New Left politics US, 1967 YL noun an unmarried woman; a girlfriend. An abbreviation of ‘young lady’ US, 1976 YM noun 1 a premises of the YMCA (the Young Men’s Christian Association), or the organisation itself. Pronounced ‘wy em’ US, 1937. 2 a boyfriend. Acronym of ‘young man’: US, 1976 YMCA dinner noun a meal made from leftovers. Standing for ‘yesterday’s muck cooked again’ AUSTRALIA, 2003 yo; Yolanda noun in craps, a roll of eleven US, 1999 yo! 1 used as a greeting. Both Italian-American and black communities lay claim to ‘yo!’. First recorded in 1944 among Philadelphia’s Italian-Americans and popularised by Sylvester Stallone in the 1976 film Rocky US, 1944. 2 used as an expression of surprise, contempt, dismay, etc SOUTH AFRICA, 1871 yob noun an uncultured, boorish person. Ultimately back slang, from ‘boy’ AUSTRALIA, 1938 yobbery noun hooliganism UK, 1974 yobbish adjective loutish, characteristic of a YOB UK, 1972 yobbo; yobo; yobboe noun a lout. A variation of YOB UK, 1938 yobby adjective characteristic of a yob UK, 1955 yo-bo noun a member of the Korean Service Corps. Korean war usage US, 1957 yochie noun in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a follower of the band who has lost all touch with reality US, 1994 yock noun a laugh US, 1938 yock verb 1 to laugh US, 1938. 2 to expel nasal mucus UK, 2001 yockele noun a Christian. Slightly derogatory East End Yiddish; perhaps an elaborate back slang variation of GOY. ‘Yog’ is recorded for ‘a Gentile’ in 1939 UK, 1977 yocks noun the eyes. English Gypsy use UK, 1936 yodel noun an act of vomiting NEW ZEALAND, 1995 yodel verb 1 to vomit AUSTRALIA, 1965. 2 to perform oral sex on a woman US, 1941. < yodel up the valley to perform oral sex on a woman. An elaboration of conventional ‘yodel’ AUSTRALIA, 1971 yodeller noun a Chrysler car. Citizens’ band radio slang, 1981 yog; yogg noun a fire in the hearth. Market traders’ use, directly from Romany UK, 1979 yogga noun a gun. English Gypsy use, perhaps from YOG (a fire) UK, 2000 yoghurt cannon noun the penis. An image formed on an ejaculating penis UK, 1998 yogi noun 1 a member of the uniformed personnel (commissionaire, security, etc) at Nottingham University in the early 1970s. Derives, apparently, from US animated cartoon series Yogi Bear,first broadcast in 1958 UK, 1984. 2 a poker player with the annoying habit of coaching other players US, 1996 yoink verb to steal US, 2002 yoinks! used for registering surprise UK, 1997 yoke noun 1 a tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy. This usage is an extension of the Hiberno-English use of the term for ‘something whose name does not spring immedi- ately to mind’ IRELAND, 1998. 2 a choke hold. Originally military slang embraced by the police US, 1987. 3 robbery by force US, 1951 yoked; yolked adjective muscular US, 1993 yokel noun an unsophisticated, gullible person, especially one with a rural background UK, 1812 yola noun a light-skinned black female US, 1947 yomo; yom noun aperson,afellowUS, 1977 yomp verb to cross rough country on foot, especially when fully laden with equipment. A Royal Marines term from the Falklands/Malvinas war UK, 1982 Yonge and Eligible noun the Yonge and Eglinton street area CANADA, 2002 yoni noun the vagina. From the Sanskrit term, which is an object of Hindu veneration TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003 yonks noun an indefinitely long time UK, 1968 yonnie noun a small stone suitable for throwing. Probably from an Australian Aboriginal language AUSTRALIA, 1941 yoof adjective used to describe any product (especially of the media) for the youth-market that may be characterised as high on fashionable content and criticised as low-culture. A deliberate misspelling of ‘youth’, mocking the pronunciation of stereotypical ‘yoof’ television presenters, emphasising the critical view UK, 2000 yoof; yufe noun a young person; the period of youth. A deliberate mispronunciation of ‘youth’, used by Leicestershire teenagers UK, 1977 yoofsploitation noun the exploitation of youth culture and imagery for commercial gain, especially in films UK, 2002 yoo-hoo noun a poker player who engages in excessive needless table talk US, 1996 yoo-hoo verb to try to get someone’s attention by calling ’yoo-hoo’ US, 1948 yoot; yut; yout noun a youth; a youth gang member. West Indian US, 1949 yop verb to inform on someone. School slang, recorded in Glasgow UK: SCOTLAND, 1985 york verb to vomit US, 1966 Yorkie; Yorky noun a Yorkshireman or -woman UK: ENGLAND, 1818 yez | Yorkie; Yorky 714 Yorkshire Penny Bank noun an act of masturbation; more usually, something of little or no value. Rhyming slang for WANK (an act of masturbation) UK, 1980 Yorkshire Ripper noun a slipper. Rhyming slang, formed on the nickname of mass murderer Peter Sutcliffe who was at large in the 1970s UK, 1992 Yorkshire tyke noun a microphone. Rhyming slang for MIKE UK, 1957 you ain’t said nothing used for expressing contempt for what has just been said US, 1968 you and me noun 1 a flea. Rhyming slang. A C19 term recorded as current UK, 1998. 2 tea. Rhyming slang UK, 1925. 3 urine; urination. Rhyming slang for WEE or PEE UK, 1998. 4 a pea. Rhyming slang UK, 1998 you beaut adjective great; excellent AUSTRALIA, 1974 you beaut!; you beauty!; you bewdy! excellent, terrific, hooray! AUSTRALIA, 1943 you beautery noun excellence AUSTRALIA, 1965 you betcha! used for expressing emphatic affirmation US, 1983 you better believe it a catchphrase used for expressing emphatic agreement US, 1969 you can go off some people, you know used as a (usually jocular) response to offence or imagined offence UK, 1984 you can have it!; you can keep it! ‘I want nothing to do with it!’ UK, 1930 you cannot be serious! ‘that is preposterous!’. A stock phrase of US tennis star John McEnroe whose questioning of officials’ calls was as legendary as his genius at the game. Of all his rants against tennis officialdom, this one spread into mainstream catchphrase status US, 2002 you can say that again used as an expression of heartfelt agreement US, 1942 you can say that in spades used as an expression of heartfelt agreement. Card playing imagery UK, 1961 you can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him used as a humorous comment on a high achiever. Popularised by ESPN’s Dan Patrick US, 1997 you can’t take it with you! directed at someone who, in saving money, loses happiness UK, 1847 you could have knocked me down with a feather used for expressing astonishment at something that has happened UK, 1741 you don’t even know used as an intensifier when words fail US, 1984 you don’t know the half of it! used, as a catchphrase, to imply so much more US, 2002 you don’t say! used for expressing astonishment at a statement US, 1912 you don’t say so! used for expressing astonishment at a statement UK, 1779 you for coffee? an unambiguous invitation to drink coffee pronounced ‘you fuck-offee!’ UK, 1984 you go, girl! used as an encouragement or exhortation. Popularised by several black entertainers relatively simultaneously in the 1990s, and widely repeated, usually in a woman-to-woman context US, 1993 you haven’t got the brains you were born with used as a derisive catchphrase UK, 1961 you have some explaining to do used for humour when there is in fact some explanation owed. A catchphrase from the ILove Lucy television series (1951- 61), with the ‘explaining’ often butchered with a pseudo Desi Arnaz Cuban accent to ‘splaining’ US, 1996 you heard! ‘you heard me all right, so don’t pretend you didn’t!’ or ‘Oh, you understand, so stop pretending!’ US, 1960 you know noun cocaine. Rhyming slang for SNOW (or, possibly, BLOW) UK, 1998 you know used as a verbal pause for indicating that the speaker assumes that the listener is listening, understanding and agreeing. An annoying discourse marker if ever there was one UK, 1599 you know what an unnamed (but strongly implied) activity or thing. The ultimate multi-purpose euphemism UK, 1845 you know what you can do!; you know what you can do with it!; you know what to do with it! used as a very definite expression of rejection of someone or something. A barely euphemistic catchphrase UK, 1945 you like? used as a humorous mock pidgin version of ‘do you like this?’ US, 1990 you little beaut; you little beauty used as praise AUSTRALIA, 1945 you’ll be a long time dead! a catchphrase offered as an excuse for indulgent behaviour UK, 1957 you’ll do yourself out of a job used as a jocular catchphrase addressed to someone working hard UK, 1977 you look marrrrvelous used for humorous praise. Popularised by comedian Billy Crystal on NBC’s Saturday Night Live in the 1980s; uttered by a Crystal character, Fernando. Repeated with referential humour US, 1984 you make a better door than a window addressed to a person getting in the light, or blocking a view NEW ZEALAND, 1941 you never get a satisfied cock without a wet pussy used for expressing the principle of symbiosis UK, 1967 you never know something unexpected may well happen UK, 1924 young adjective < not so young as I was; not as young as he used to be getting or being old UK, 1852. < the night is young; the night is yet young it is still early UK, 1937 youngblood noun a young man, especially a young black man and especially an impetuous one; used as a term of address to a young man US, 1946 young, dumb, and full of come adjective used for describing a young man with great hopes and little experience US, 1966 young fellow-me-lad; young feller-me-lad noun used as a semi- jocular form of address UK, 1926 young fogey noun a young person with out-dated ideas and values. Coinage is claimed by Australian writer and wit Clive James UK, 2001 youngie noun a young woman; a young person. The natural corollary of OLDIE AUSTRALIA, 1965 young lady noun a female sweetheart UK, 1896 young man noun a male sweetheart UK, 1851 young one noun an attractive young girl who is sexually of age IRELAND, 1991 young stir noun a reformatory for junvenile offenders. A pun on ‘youngster’ US, 1982 young ’un noun a child, a young or younger person UK, 1810 young volunteer noun a youthful male homosexual prostitute US, 1982 young woman noun a female sweetheart UK, 1858 you now what?; you know what! used as an introductory catchphrase UK, 1961 your actual; yer actual adjective used to emphasise a noun UK, 1966 you rang? used as a humorous line when entering a room. A signature line of the hipster character Maynard G. Krebs on the television situation comedy The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (CBS, 1959–63). Repeated with referential humour US, 1963 your arse! used as an expression of contempt, rejection, disbelief or derision UK, 1988 your arse in parsley! you are talking nonsense! An elaborated form of ( UP) YOUR ARSE! UK: SCOTLAND, 1985 you’re right, you fox used as a tease when someone has finally stumbled over the obvious US, 1966 you’re sharing used as an admonition that the speaker is straying into personal matters that should be kept private US, 1995 you’re telling me used for concurring with another speaker UK, 1932 you’re the boss you decide, you make the choice. Used among equals, or even to a child, with no real superiority involved AUSTRALIA, 1984 715 Yorkshire Penny Bank | you’re the boss you’re the doctor! whatever you say; you are the authority, or the expert, or the one in charge; the responsibility is yours US, 1907 your man noun a specific male individual. An idiomatic phrase used in Hiberno-English IRELAND, 1991 your one noun a specific female individual. An idiomatic phrase used in Hiberno-English IRELAND, 1995 yours and ours noun flowers. Rhyming slang; noted as current among Covent Garden porters UK, 1960 yourself pronoun < up yourself smugly self-satisfied; self-involved AUSTRALIA, 1987 yours truly pronoun used for ‘me’ or ‘I’; a reference to yourself. Adopted from the formal subscription to a letter; usage is generally jocular in tone UK, 1866 youse; yous; youze; yers; yez noun you, both singular and plural AUSTRALIA, 1885 you shot who? I didn’t hear you – what did you just say? US, 1988 you tell me! used for expressing a complete lack of understanding of the subject under discussion UK, 1969 you the man used for registering the personal superiority of a man so addressed; hence, used to encourage and to champion someone US, 1997 you’ve said it! ‘yes, indeed!’, I entirely agree with you US, 1931 you were born stupid – you’ve learnt nothing – and you’ve forgotten that a catchphrase addressed to someone who has said or done something foolish. Probably of military origin AUSTRALIA, 1984 you weren’t born – you were pissed up against the wall and hatched in the sun a catchphrase used in response to such assertions as ‘before I was born’, ‘when I was born’, etc UK, 1977 you what?; y’what? what did you say? Often challenging, disbelieving or truculent UK, 1964 you won’t know yourself a catchphrase used as encouragement to diet or exercise or to try a change of style (clothes, hair, etc) UK, 1961 you wouldn’t want to know you would be terribly amazed, disappointed, disgusted; you would not believe it! AUSTRALIA, 1975 yow! 1 watch out! Used as a warning to people engaged in some criminal activity AUSTRALIA, 1950. 2 used as an expression of surprise. Popularised in the Zippie the Pinhead cartoon US, 1991 yowge adjective emphatically huge. Liverpool dialect echoes the stressed pronunciation UK, 2001 yowl noun the exhaust note of a twin two-stroke motorcycle engine UK, 1979 yoy noun an editorial rant likely to contain the phrase ‘why oh why’. An acronym in journalistic use UK, 2005 yo-yo noun 1 afoolUS, 1955 . 2 a bisexual US, 1986. 3 a hot rod enthusiast who races illegally US, 1956. 4 in air combat, a steep climb and dive in an attempt to gain a more favourable position US, 1989. < up and down like a yo-yo used of a person whose moods alternate rapidly between optimism and despair UK, 1984 yoyo verb to perform a tactic in aerial combat resembling a roller coaster ride US, 1983 yoyo children noun children who become pawns in a violent matrimonial battle and are constantly changing home UK, 1977 yoyo mouth noun a citizens’ band radio user who talks too much US, 1976 yoyo nickers; yo-yo knickers noun a woman who (allegedly) exhibits a casual readiness for sexual encounters. The image is drawn of panties going up and down, up and down UK, 1999 YP noun in prison, used insultingly of an inmate who is not behaving in an adult manner. An initialism of ‘young prisoner’ UK, 1996 Y’s noun male underpants. Presumably this term is restricted to pants with a Y-shaped opening UK: SCOTLAND, 1985 YT yours truly, me UK, 2001 yuck noun 1 a laugh US, 1971. 2 afoolUS, 1943. 3 in gambling cheating schemes, a victim US, 1962. 4 crack cocaine US, 1993 yuck!; yech!; yuk! used as an indication of disgust. Echoic of vomiting UK, 1966 yuck; yuk; yuk-yuk verb to laugh. Echoic US, 1974. < yuck it to stop doing something UK: SCOTLAND, 1985. < yuck it up; yuk it up to behave in a foolish, time-wasting way US, 1964 yucky; yukky; yukkie adjective disgusting US, 1970 yug noun a deviation from an intended flight-path. In Royal Air Force use UK, 1979 yuk verb to vomit US, 1997 yuletide log; yuletide noun a dog, especially a racing greyhound. Rhyming slang; a variation of CHRISTMAS LOG UK, 1974 yuletide logs; yuletides noun greyhound racing. Rhyming slang for THE DOGS UK, 1974 yum!; yum-yum! used for registering pleasurable anticipation, especially with regard to your personal appetites UK, 1878 yumlicious adjective of a young man, sexually attractive. Teenage girls’ usage, or foisted upon them by the magazines they read. Elision of YUMMY (tasty, attractive) and ‘delicious’; literally ‘good enough to eat’ UK, 1998 yummy noun an attractive woman who is not easily seduced. Often embellished to KANSAS YUMMY US, 1985 yummy adjective tasty, delicious, attractive UK, 1899 yummy mummy noun a sexually desirable mother. Not to be confused with the branded breakfast cereal which probably lent its name to this breed IRELAND, 2001 yum-yums noun any illegal drug in capsule form US, 1980 yup noun a yuppie (young upwardly mobile professional). A sneering abbreviation of a sneering initialism US, 1984 yup yes, absolutely. A variation of YEP; the final plosive stresses the intention and gives it a semi-exclamatory sense US, 1906 yuppie noun an individual socially categorised as a young upwardly mobile professional. An acronym, often used derogatively, probably coined by several people independently. Variations include: BUPPIE/BUPPY (black upwardly mobile professional), ‘chuppy’ (Chinese etc.), ‘puppy’ (Punjabi etc.). These social groupings are the stuff of personal ads where you can find new, evermore contrived acronyms including, according to David Rowan, A Glossary for the 90s, 1998: SINBAD (single income, no boyfriend and absolutely desperate), SITCOM (single income, two children and an oppressive mortgage) and YAPPIE (young affluent parent) US, 1982 yuppie scum noun an arrogant young professional. A favourite epithet of the 1980s US, 1992 yuppification noun the change that is made in order that something or somewhere becomes attractive to the yuppie market; gentrification. Derogatory in tone UK, 1999 yuppify verb to style or remodel something in a manner character- istic of, or suitable for, yuppy life UK, 1984 yupster noun a young upwardly mobile professional. A variation of YUPPIE US, 1986 yutz noun a fool. From Yiddish yutz (the penis) US, 1991 you’re the doctor! | yutz 716 . (a wife) and XYM (a husband) US, 1976 XYL noun a wife. A partial acronym: ‘ex-young lady’ US, 1976 XYM noun a husband. A partial acronym: ‘ex-young-man’ US, 1976 XYZ noun a citizens’ band radio. used in Hiberno -English IRELAND, 1991 your one noun a specific female individual. An idiomatic phrase used in Hiberno -English IRELAND, 1995 yours and ours noun flowers. Rhyming slang; noted as. seeds from other matter AUSTRALIA, 1903 yandy verb to separate seeds from surrounding matter in a YANDY; hence, in tin-mining, to pan. Such work is done by a ‘yandier’ AUSTRALIA, 1914 yang noun 1