Yes Man
A "yes-man" (or "yes man") is someone who always agrees with a boss and simply follows orders. The term was popularized by Freeman Tilden (1883-1980), who wrote "The…
1930s: Jazzing the Big Apple
Yes My Retarded Ass Signed Up (“U.S. Army” backronym, backwards)
"Yes My Retarded Ass Signed Up" is a backronym (back acronym) of "U.S. Army," spelled backwards as "YMRASU." "Yes My Retarded Ass Signed Up" has been cited…
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
Why exactly is this Christmas letter to the old New York Sun so famous? Because people want to believe in Santa Claus? The famed "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" letter to…
Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle (“Yahoo!” backronym)
Yahoo! is a California-based Internet company that was founded by Jerry Yang and David Filo in January 1994 and was incorporated on March 1, 1995. The word “yahoo” was used in Jonathan…
Yiddish Broadway or Yiddish Rialto (Second Avenue in Manhattan)
The Lower East Side of Manhattan had numerous Yiddish theaters in the early 1900s, but most of them disappeared by the 1940s. The area was called the "Yiddish Rialto" by at least 1908.…
YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard)
"YIMBY" (Yes In My Back Yard) is the opposite of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard). YIMBY supports development; NIMBY opposes development. "YIMBY" has been cited in print since at…
Yippie
A "yippie" is a member of the Youth International Party. The name was a take-off on "hippie" and was applied to New York figures such as Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin.…
Yokelhoma or Yokelahoma (Oklahoma nickname)
"Yokelhoma" or "Yokelahoma" is an unflattering nickname from people who think that Oklahoma or the University of Oklahoma is filled with a bunch of "yokels." The term…
YOLOMAWMIT (You Only Live Once, Might As Well Make It Tasty)
"YOLOMAWMIT" (You Only Live Once, Might As Well Make It Tasty) is a variation on the popular acronym "YOLO" (You Only Live Once). "YOLOMAWMIT" has been printed on…
Yomentum (“yo” or “yes” momentum)
A minority party is sometimes called a "party of 'no,'" saying "no" to the majority party's agenda. When members of the majority party also disagree with some of…
Yonkers: Little Apple (nickname)
Yonkers is located next to New York City (the "Big Apple"), and the nickname "Little Apple" has been infrequently used. "Little Apple (Yonkers, that is)" was printed…
Yonkers: Sixth Borough (nickname)
New York City has five boroughs. The consolidation into the borough system took effect on January 1, 1898. Yonkers (in Westchester County) was soon proposed to be New York's sixth borough.…
Yoo Hoo (soft drink and slang phrase)
"Yoo Hoo" is a popular chocolate soft drink. The New York Yankees helped to advertise the drink in the 1950s, and Yankee star Yogi Berra has long promoted the product. The phrase…
Yoots or Yutes (youths)
"What is a yute?" asked the Southern judge to a lawyer (played by Joe Pesci) in the movie comedy My Cousin Vinny (1992). Vinny (from New York City) was perplexed that his dialect…
Yorkvillian (inhabitant of Yorkville, Manhattan)
"Yorkvillian” is the name of an inhabitant of Yorkville, in the borough of Manhattan. The name “Yorkvillian” has been cited in print since at least 1920. Wikipedia: Yorkville,…
You Always Have Other Options (“Yahoo!” backronym)
Yahoo! is a California-based Internet company that was founded by Jerry Yang and David Filo in January 1994 and was incorporated on March 1, 1995. The word "yahoo" was used in Jonathan…
YOU CAN HELP! REALLY!!
Write to the mayor! Letters are probably better, but e-mail is good, also! Tell him about this website and about my 12-year campaign to run for "public advocate," and ask him if I have…
You Have No Idea (El Paso slogan)
"You have no idea" is the 2007 slogan for El Paso. City leaders discovered that many people (both Texans and non-Texans) had no idea what El Paso was like. A previous El Paso slogan was…
You’ll Love Lufkin (Lufkin motto/slogan)
"You'll love Lufkin" is the motto/slogan of the city of Lufkin in east Texas. The Lufkin area has many trees and lakes and is being actively promoted as a retirement community.…
YouBoob (YouTube nickname)
YouTube is an American video-sharing website that began in February 2005. In November 2006, Google purchased YouTube. YouTube is sometimes called "YouBoob" ("boob" meaning…