Up the yin yang

Posted by Smokey Stover on January 13, 2006

In Reply to: Up the yin yang posted by Brian from Shawnee on January 13, 2006

: : : What is the origin of the phrase "Up the yin yang"?

: : Is there such a phrase? Or did someone just make it up? For yin yang, see the Wikipedia (online) s.v. Yin and yang. I can't really imagine "up the yin yang" being used in any was except as a substitute for "up yours." It would be most appropriate, of course, coming from someone who was tired of high-toned discussions of Asian philosophy, so much so that he said something like, "Stick it up your yin yang." SS

: Yes Smokey, there is such a phrase and but it's not used in place of "up yours". It means "in abundance", and it's so popular that there are several variations. You may find a good deal on an iPod or an MP3 player from someone who's got merchandise "up" or "out" either the "yin yang" or the "ying yang", and there may be other combinations that would be generally understood to mean the same thing. But beware of paying too much, or "paying through the ying-yang"!

: I don't know where to look to find the "origin" of the phrase, however.

I'm glad to find there's someone who knows, in this case Brian. But I'd still like a little clarification. Could someone who is selling iPods have them in such abundance that they are "coming out his yin-yang"? SS

• Up the yin yang Brian from Shawnee 14/January/06
  • Yin yangs, wazoos, and expulsion Bob 14/January/06
    • Yin yangs, wazoos, and expulsion R. Berg 15/January/06