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./