Did you mean yo yo?
Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A toy consisting of a flattened spool wound with string that is spun down from and reeled up to the hand by motions of the wrist.
- n. Informal One that undergoes frequent abrupt shifts or reversals, as of opinion or emotion; a vacillator.
- n. Slang A stupid or objectionable person.
- v. Informal To undergo frequent abrupt shifts or reversals, as of opinion or emotion; vacillate.
Wiktionary
- n. A toy consisting of a spheroidal or cylindrical spindle having a circular groove in which string is wound; it is used by holding the string in the fingers and reeling the spindle up and down by movements of the wrist.
- n. A volatile market that moves up and down.
- n. Someone who vacillates.
- n. A foolish, annoying or incompetent person.
- v. To vacillate; to move up and down.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a toy consisting of a spool that is reeled up and down on a string by motions of the hand
Etymologies
- Originally a trademark.
Examples
“When asked why officials would not give Alden another chance, Gelder said the state wanted to avoid what he termed "yo-yo" facilities: "They do a really good job when they know someone is coming to look, but yet we have problems as soon as the spotlight is turned off.”
“First, they make you feel like a loser, and then something even worse happens to so-called yo-yo dieters.”
“But this leads to a behavioral cycle in which your system “doesn’t work” or you can’t get back into a healthy mind-set—some people call it yo-yo dieting.”
“I could continue this yo-yo description of euroland affairs were it not that I will run out of good news to juxtapose against the bad.”
The Wall Street Journal: Euroland Should Prepare for More Ups and Downs in Its Yo-Yo Economy
“Kim Bensen, a lifetime yo-yo dieter who lost more than 200 pounds, currently leads motivational weight loss meetings at Calvary Church in Trumbull at 6:30, Wednesday nights.”
The Huffington Post: Kim Bensen: Samantha: One Woman's Weight Loss Journey
“A crew from the Townhall.com conservative news site gave passersby the choice of a T-shirt, a yo-yo or lip balm.”
The Washington Post: CPAC gets underway on wave of 2010 midterm momentum
“We pass the shoe market, where hundreds of shoes hang from the ceilings on strings; the purse market, hanging by purse strings; the music mart, where the rich interdental consonants of Arabic songs consume the air; the basket bazaar; a merchant unfurling a yo-yo.”
The Huffington Post: Richard Bangs: Why Would Anyone Bomb Jemaa El F'na Square in Marrakesh?
“When the final bell rang to end classes, my heart felt like a yo-yo.”
“The market's "somewhat rudderless, yo-yo like behavior" shows a lack of definite direction as earnings season starts, said Lawrence Creatura , portfolio manager at Federated Investors.”
The Wall Street Journal: Earnings Help DJIA Turn a Bad Day Good
“While tics and habits are related on a neurological level, it's simplistic to suggest that we can establish complex and difficult habits, like a rigorous, long-range diet and exercise routine, as easily as we master, say, the yo-yo.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘yo-yo’.
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Hyphenated Repeats
Exactly reduplicated words connected by a hyphen.
aye-aye, cleek-cleek, arc-arc, killy-killy, dum-dum, tom-tom, argon-argon, carbon-carbon, win-win, lose-lose, bye-bye, choo-choo and 101 more...
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Playthings and Toys
have fun!
battledore, beanbag, bicycle, Big Wheel, crayons, boomerang, cap gun, doll, kite, jigsaw puzzle, hula hoop, jack-in-the-box and 66 more...
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indianyogi's list
double entendre
sizz-water, indian, yogi, india, yo-yo, any, ian, dia, gi, yo
madmouth I'd thought the top was Jan 3, 2010
oroboros The second oldest toy (after doll). Via Says You.
Jan 3, 2010
vanishedone As a verb: 'All went well at first, with inflation, and therefore rent rises, staying low. Over the past year, however, the RPI has yo-yoed. In 2008 it rose steadily, hitting 5 percent in September before falling back to 0.9 percent by the end of the year.' (Private Eye #1229, p.6) Feb 4, 2009
bilby A weekend hippy. Apr 3, 2008
treeseed See Duncan Imperial Jan 27, 2008