yes
yes (one) to death
To repeatedly answer questions with "yes," often because one is bored or annoyed. All right, stop yessing me to death and give me real some feedback here! My teenage daughter won't talk to me anymore; she just yesses me to death.
See also: death, yes
yes all women
A phrase typically used as a hashtag accompanying women's accounts of encountering sexual misconduct and sexism and intended to show how widespread such experiences are. It was popularized in 2014 in the aftermath of the Isla Vista killings perpetrated by Elliot Rodger, whose misogynistic manifesto promoted violence against women. The hashtag emerged as a counter to #NotAllMen, which was often used in an attempt to emphasize that not all men mistreat women. Women face an omnipresent threat of harassment. Yes all women.
See also: all, women, yes
yes and amen
An expression of emphatic or exaggerated agreement with or approval of something. "Yes" is sometimes repeated to add extra emphasis. A: "And that's why I believe we should instead be spending this money on public education!" B: "Yes, yes, yes, and amen! Finally, a politician who gets it!" A: "What do you think of pineapple on pizza?" B: "I say yes and amen!" I was good at my job, but I was tired of having to say "yes and amen" to all of my boss's dumb ideas.
See also: amen, and, yes
yes and no
Partially so, but also partially not. Said of a situation more complex than a simple yes-or-no response. A: "So, would this tax maneuver be illegal?" B: "Well, yes and no. The actual transactions you want to do are perfectly legal, but not when both companies have the same beneficial owner." A: "Was the film any good?" B: Eh, yes and no. It was entertaining, but the plot and characters were totally absurd."
See also: and, no, yes
yes man
One who always agrees with authority figures, in order to gain favor with them. Stephanie only hired Tim because he's a yes man and won't challenge her authority.
See also: man, yes
yes means yes
The stance that affirmative consent for a sexual encounter must be indicated by explicitly saying "yes." Yes means yes. If your partner doesn't say it, there is no consent. Yes means yes is a much better model than no means no.
See also: mean, yes
yes sir
1. Literally, a respectful affirmation to a man. A: "Adams, report to your CO at 0800 hours." B: "Yes sir! A: "Will you have the report finished in time for my board meeting?" B: "Yes sir, I'm just finishing up the final points now."
2. Used to emphasize what one just said, rather than being addressed to anyone in particular. Ouch, that is one nasty looking cut you've got there, yes sir! Yes sir, this new lawnmower will take care of that grass in half the time it used to take!
See also: sir, yes
yes sir, yes sir, three bags full, sir
Used sarcastically to characterize someone who obsequiously accepts any order or demand, no matter how unwise or unreasonable. It's never wise to surround yourself with subordinates whose only contribution to your ideas is "yes sir, yes sir, three bags full, sir." You need people who will challenge you to think or act in ways you hadn't considered.
See also: bag, sir, three, yes
yes, indeed(y)
informal A more emphatic way of saying "yes." A: "Are you going to the party tonight?" B: "Yes, indeed. Probably going to head over there around 9 or so." Yes, indeedy, I truly believe that this is the finest pizza in all of New York City!
yes, sirree
1. informal A more emphatic way of responding "yes." "Sirree" is itself an informal variant of "sir"; it is sometimes spelled "siree." A: "Are you going to the party tonight?" B: "Yes, sirree. Probably going to head over there around 9 or so."
2. informal Used to emphasize what one just said, rather than being addressed to anyone in particular. Yes, sirree, this new lawnmower will take care of that grass in half the time it used to take! I truly believe that this is the finest pizza in all of New York City, yes, siree!
See also: sirree
yes-man
Someone who agrees to everything, seemingly without giving it a thought. Usually a derisive term suggesting that the person is a mindless follower of what/whomever they are agreeing to/with. You can't trust what Chad says, he's just the boss's yes-man. I doubt he has an original thought in his head!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
Yes indeed(y do)!
Inf. Definitely yes! Tom: Will you marry me? Jane: Yes indeedy do, I will! Charlie: Did your horse win the race? Bill: Yes indeedy!
See also: yes
Yes siree(, Bob)!
Inf. Absolutely!; Without a doubt! (Not necessarily said to a male and not necessarily to Bob.) Mary: Do you want some more cake? Tom: Yes siree, Bob! "That was a fine turkey dinner. Yes siree!" said Uncle Henry.
See also: yes
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
yes and no
In some ways and not others, as in Did you enjoy yourself?-Yes and no, I liked the music itself but hated the conductor. This idiom, always a reply to a question, was first recorded in 1873.
See also: and, no, yes
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
yes and no
partly and partly not. 1981 Brian Murphy The Enigma Variations ‘Do you believe that if you continue seeing me you'll be damned?’ ‘Yes and no.’
See also: and, no, yes
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
ˌyes ˈsir!
,ˌyes sirˈree!
(spoken, especially American English) used to emphasize that something is true: That’s a fine car you have. Yes sirree!See also: yes
ˌyes and ˈno
said when you cannot answer either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ because the situation is not simple: ‘Have you got a car?’ ‘Well, yes and no. We have, but it’s not working at the moment.’See also: and, no, yes
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
Yes!
interj. Absolutely yes! (Always with a special intonation that holds the y on a higher pitch and then drops the pitch sharply. The word itself is not slang, but the word with this intonation is part of many slang contexts.) Yes! Exactly right!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
yes and no
That is partly true. This equivocal reply to a question dates from the mid-nineteenth century. C. M. Young used it in Pillars of the House: “‘Do you come from his father?’—‘Well, yes and no. His father is still in Oregon.’” A teasing version, originating in the twentieth-century schoolyard, is yes, no, maybe so, meaning, of course, wouldn’t you like to know (the answer)!
See also: and, no, yes
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- be fed up to the back teeth
- fed up to the back teeth
- fed up to the back teeth (with someone or something)
- fed up to the back teeth with somebody/something
- fed up to the teeth
- bend (one's) ear
- bend ear
- bend somebody's ear
- bend someone's ear
- labour the point