thrown away a good career, and was vain enough to think he could be an author. 2. (of a belief, decision, etc.) wrong and irrational: The choice of Murphy was so wrong-headed that even some of the people who negotiated the deal were embar- rassed by it. Y yellow black • yellow nigger yellow black —(U.S. sl., may sound offensive) said of a light- skinned Black American (also: high yellow black): It has always been somewhat bothersome for me as a so-called “high-yel - low” black American when people approach me about my ancestry. yellow nigger —(U.S. sl., taboo) an offensive name for an East Asian: He recalled that he was denounced as a “yellow nigger ” when he took part in civil-rights marches in the 1960s and early 1970s. Yellow Book • yellow newspaper Yellow Book—rule book for listed companies which governs their behavior: The Financial Yellow Book brings you accurate information on 822 public and private financial companies in the United States. yellow newspaper—a newspaper of unscrupulously sensa- tional character: The man who in a yellow newspaper makes a ferocious attack on good men is a potent enemy of those of us who are really striving to expose bad men. yellow boy • yellow man yellow boy —1. the Winchester 1866 rifle: This weapon could hold sixteen cartridges. Known as the “Yellow-boy ” because of its brass frame, it was developed from the Henry repeating rifle. 2. (dated) a gold coin: And if you’ll only go along with me, this day twelve months you’ll all have more yellow boys in your pockets than will buy a good farm down east. 3. (U.S. sl., may sound offensive) a light-skinned Black boy: His com- plexion was light and his features were far less Negroid than those of his mother. He was a rather good looking yellow boy . yellow man—1. (Anthropolog y) a person of the Mongoloid race with naturally yellowish skin: Mongolic or Yellow Man prevails over the vast area lying east of a line drawn from Lap- land to Siam. 2. (coll.) a fearful, cowardly man: It frightens me when moderate voices are taken to be from weak and yel - low men . 3. a flat sugar-stick, flavored with lemon: “Lemon Platt,” commonly sold as “Yellow Man ” at fairs in the North of Ireland, derives its name from its flavor. yellow stripe disease • yellow stripe rust yellow stripe disease —a virus disease of sugarcane character- ized by striping of the foliage: Sugar cane varieties have been imported which are resistant to the highly troublesome yel - low-stripe disease . yellow stripe rust—a rust of wheat, rye, barley, and other grains caused by a fungus: The main diseases to check for are yellow stripe rust (Puccinia glumarum) and stem rust (Puccinia gramminis). yellow trumpet • yellow trumpet flower yellow trumpet—a plant (Sarracenia flava) whose leaves are shaped into the form of a pitcher: A fly perches on the lip of the yellow trumpet , also known as the trumpet or yellow pitcherplant. yellow trumpet flower—a tropical American shrub: Yellow bells (Tecoma stans), also called yellow trumpet flower , yellow elder, and yellow trumpetbush, is a small to medium sized shrub. you and your • you and yours you and your—is used as a contemptuous dismissal of the thing or person mentioned: “I was born there…. It was called after my uncle.” “Shut up—you and your uncle!” you and yours —(coll.) you and your family (also: you and your near and dear ones): I and mine will be happy to see you and yours here or anywhere. you are a dead man • you are a long time dead you are a dead man —(also: you are dead) 1. is used as a threat to kill: Speak one word, and you are a dead man ! 2. is used as a caution: In this neighborhood, you don’t carry a knife or a piece, you are a dead man . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase it’s your funeral—(coll.) it’s your affair or concern, so do it on your own responsibility (and suffer the consequences): I refuse to involve myself. It is your problem and your fu- neral . you are a long time dead—is used to say that life is short and one has to enjoy oneself: “I don’t think we want any [drink] today.” “Oh, cheer up, Davey, you’re a long time dead .” you can talk • you can’t talk you can talk—(also: you should talk) you are in no position to criticize because you are at least as guilty as smb. you are criticizing (used as an ironic or sarcastic response to a person who has just spoken): “Debra’s house is always such a mess!” “You can talk ! Your house is even messier than hers!” you can’t talk—(also: you shouldn’t talk) = you can talk: “Andy’s always late. He won’t be here in time for dinner.” “You can’t talk . You haven’t been on time for dinner for years.” you cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs • you cannot make bricks without straw you cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs—(saying) one should be prepared to make some sacrifice for what one wants: “Why all the bloodshed?” “You cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs ,” came the reply. you cannot make bricks without straw —(saying ) nothing can be made or performed without the necessary means: The med- ical profession does what it can but you cannot make bricks without straw . you can’t win • you can’t win ’em all you can’t win—(also: you just can’t win) no matter how much you try, there is no way to succeed: Even though we try to educate everyone we come in contact with, sometimes you just can’t win . you can’t win ’em all—is used to say that it is not possible to succeed at every thing one does: You can’t win ’em all . If someone doesn’t respond to you or indicates lack of interest, just move on. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase you can’t fight city hall—used to say that one is unable to overcome officialdom or bureaucracy: When it comes to judi- cial review of local government abuses, the fox is too often left guarding the henhouse. That all adds up to the depressing adage “you can’t fight city hall .” you don’t say so • you may well say so you don’t say so—is used to express surprise or sarcasm at what smb. has just said: I explained my presence, and he said: “You don’t say so ! Why, I’ve got a patient over at Swampscott, who says he knows you. you may well say so—what you say is perfectly correct, justified, etc.: “A craft that’s good for sore eyes.” “You may yellow black – 338 –