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[x-rated]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Pertaining to movies, magazines, and literature judged pornographic and therefore off limits for minors. •/My son celebrated his 21st birthday by going to an x-rated movie./

[x-raying machine]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Speed detection device by radar used by the police. •/The smokies are using the x-raying machine under the bridge!/

Y

[yak-yak] or [yakety-yak] or [yakib-yak] {n.}, {slang} Much talk about little things; talking all the time about unimportant things. •/Tom sat behind two girls on the bus and he got tired of their silly yak-yak./

[year] See: ALONG IN YEARS or ON IN YEARS.

[year in, year out] See: DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

[year-round] or [year-around] {adj.} Usable, effective, or operating all the year. •/Colorado is a year-round resort; there is fishing in the summer and skiing in the winter./

[yellow around the gills] See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.

[yellow-bellied]{adj.}, {slang} Extremely timid, cowardly. •/Joe Bennett is a yellow-bellied guy, don’t send him on such a tough assignment!/

[yellow journalism]{n. phr.} Cheap and sensational newspaper writing; inflammatory language designed to stir up popular sentiment against another country. •/Yellow journalism is hardly ever truly informative./

[yellow-livered]{adj.} Cowardly. •/The young boy greatly resented being called yellow-livered and started to fight right away./

[yeoman service]{n. phr.} Help in time of need; serviceable and good assistance. •/Sam was pressed into yeoman service in organizing our annual fundraiser for cerebral palsy victims./

[yes-man]{n.}, {informal} A person who tries to be liked by agreeing with everything said; especially, someone who always agrees with a boss or the one in charge. •/John tries to get ahead on his job by being a yes-man./

[yesterday] See: BORN YESTERDAY.

[yon] See: HITHER AND THITHER or HITHER AND YON.

[yoo-hoo]{interj.} — Used as an informal call or shout to a person to attract his attention. •/Louise opened the door and called "Yoo-hoo, Mother — are you home?"/ See: ALL RIGHT FOR YOU, I’M TELLING YOU, SAYS WHO or SAYS YOU, THAT’S --- FOR YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU.

[you bet] or [you bet your boots] or [you bet your life] {informal} Most certainly; yes, indeed; without any doubt. — Used to declare with emphasis that a thing is really so. •/Do I like to ski? You bet your life I do./ •/You bet I will be at the party./ •/You can bet your boots that Johnny will come home when his money is gone./ Compare: BET ONE’S BOTTOM DOLLAR.

[you can say that again] See: YOU SAID IT.

[you can’t teach an old dog new tricks] It is very hard or almost impossible to train an older person to acquire some new skill. — A proverb. •/You’ll never teach your grandfather how to do his income tax on a personal computer. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks./

[you don’t say]{interj.}, {informal} — Used to show surprise at what is said. •/Your ring is a real diamond? You don’t say!/ •/"Bill and Jean are going to get married." "You don’t say!"/ Syn.: DO TELL.