Proverbs starting with letter Y

You cannot have it both ways

You may not choose first one and then the other alternative in order to suit your own convenience. It is often used in argument when an opponent... Read more →

You cannot get water out of a stone

The proverb has the meaning of futility of trying to extract money from a person who either will not pay, or has not the money to pay with. It... Read more →

You cannot get blood out of a stone

Here 'blood' means human feeling and a 'stone' represents a hard-hearted person. The proverb refers to avarice; a man can be so full of greed... Read more →

You cannot get a quart into a pint pot

This incontestable fact is used figuratively in such contexts as: 'Look, dear,' said Mr Davidson while his wife was packing for their summer... Read more →

You cannot catch old birds with chaff

Experienced people are not to be deceived; they are too shrewd. Chaff is the outer covering of the grain and worthless as food.

You cannot burn the candle at both ends

Dr Brewer explains this as follows: 'You cannot do two opposite things at one and the same time; you cannot exhaust your energies in one... Read more →