yet

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(someone) ain't seen nothing yet

Someone has only glimpsed or experienced the beginning of something that will become even more exciting, impressive, or important. (The word "ain't" is a colloquial form of "hasn't" or "haven't," which are sometimes used instead.) I could tell your parents are already impressed with the house, but they ain't seen nothing yet! A: "Wow, there is so much going on in this city all at once!" B: "Just wait, darling, you ain't seen nothing yet—it only really comes alive at night!" This team has played really well, and yet, we ain't seen nothing yet—they're due to get their two biggest stars back from the injured list this week.

(someone) hasn't seen nothing yet

Someone has only glimpsed or experienced the beginning of something that will become even more exciting, impressive, or important. (The word "ain't," a colloquial form of "hasn't" or "haven't," is often used instead.) I could tell your parents are already impressed with the house, but they haven't seen nothing yet! A: "Wow, there is so much going on in this city all at once!" B: "Just wait, darling, you haven't seen nothing yet—it only really comes alive at night!" This team has played really well, and yet, we haven't seen nothing yet—they're due to get their two biggest stars back from the injured list this week.

and yet

In spite of something previously mentioned. Molly said she was sick, and yet here she is, walking around the mall, perfectly healthy. I followed the recipe exactly, and yet my cake is as dry as can be. Deep down, I knew that I didn't really love Bill—and yet, I married him anyway.

Are we having fun yet?

A phrase used sarcastically or humorously when something is not as enjoyable as one had hoped it would be. Are we having fun yet? We've only spent most of our vacation day stuck in traffic! A: "Wow, more papers to file?" B: "Yep. Are we having fun yet or what?" The phone has been ringing off the hook all morning? Whoa, are we having fun yet?

as yet

At this time; yet. No one has responded to my email as yet, so I don't have an answer for you.

See also: yet

it's early days (yet)

It is still only the beginning period or phase of some activity or situation, so it's too soon to know how things will develop or conclude. A: "Uh oh, the new product's sales aren't as high as we were expecting." B: "Well, it's early days yet, so let's just wait and see how things pan out. Sales might rally closer to the holidays." A: "So, how are things going between you and Sarah?" B: "They're going pretty well! It's still early days, of course, but I have a good feeling about us."

not just yet

Very soon; not at this exact moment. A: "Will I make the announcement?" B: "Not just yet; let everyone get settled in first." We're not finished just yet. We need a few more minutes to get everything ready.

not out of the woods

Despite improvement, not yet completely free from difficulties or danger. Often said in reference to someone's health or financial situation. Her surgery went as well as we could have hoped, but she's not out of the woods yet. We've restructured the organization to help eliminate unnecessary costs, but we're still not out of the woods.

so close (and) yet so far

1. Some outcome is or was very close to happening, but it will not, may not, or did not happen, and therefore it seems like it is or was never so close. They reached the semifinals, only to have their championship dreams dashed by a crushing 4-0 defeat. So close, yet so far.

2. One is very close to completing or succeeding at something, but there is still difficult work to do before that can happen. I finished the rough draft of my thesis, but I still have to edit and proofread it. I'm so close and yet so far.

so near (and) yet so far

the best is yet to come

There may have been success, prosperity, or good outcomes so far, but things will reach even greater levels in the future. During the governor's first term, the state saw record increases in its annual revenue. As a part of his reelection campaign, he has told voters that the best is yet to come.

the mills of God grind slowly(, but they grind exceedingly fine)

Destiny will deliver an outcome that is correct, just, and inevitable, though it may take a long time to come to be. It was a disheartening verdict, to be sure, but we aren't losing hope for a successful outcome eventually. The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. The mills of God grind slowly, and we've been making slow but steady progress in this country over the last three decades, but it seems like those mills have sputtered to a halt lately.

See also: but, exceedingly, god, grind, mill, of

there's life in the old dog yet

cliché One still has vitality or the ability to perform certain actions despite one's advanced age. Did you see Grandpa out on the dance floor? There's life in the old dog yet! I know you think I'm all broken down, but I can still hold my own when I need to. There's life in this old dog yet!

mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small

Prov. It may take a long time, but evil will always be punished. Jill: It really doesn't seem right that Fred can be so horrible and dishonest, but he always gets everything he wants. Jane: Be patient. The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.

See also: god, grind, mill, of, small, yet

You ain't seen nothing yet!

Rur. The best, most exciting, or cleverest part is yet to come! (The use of ain't is a fixed part of this idiomatic expression.) Alice: Well, the first act was simply divine. Sue: Stick around. You ain'tseen nothing yet! Mary: This part of the city is really beautiful. Bill: You ain't seen nothing yet!

as yet

So far, up to now, as in No one has found a solution as yet. [Late 1300s]

See also: yet

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

so near and yet so far

so near yet so far

You say so near and yet so far or so near yet so far to say that someone almost achieved what they wanted, but in the end just failed. It was a case of so near yet so far yesterday for Catriona Jones when she finished just one shot behind the tournament winner.

See also: and, far, near, yet

not out of the woods

COMMON If someone or something is not out of the woods, they are still having difficulties or are still in danger. The Prime Minister is by no means out of the woods, and must fight to defend his leadership at a crisis Cabinet meeting today. The nation's economy is not out of the woods yet. Note: This may come from the proverb `Don't halloo till you are out of the wood', which is a warning not to celebrate something before you have actually achieved your aim.

there's life in the old dog yet

despite appearances to the contrary, an old person is still full of vigour, enthusiasm, etc.

so near and yet so far

a rueful comment on a situation in which you have narrowly failed to achieve an aim.

See also: and, far, near, yet

you ain't seen nothing yet

there is something even more extreme or impressive in store. informal

This expression was popularized by Al Jolson's aside in the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, ‘you ain't heard nuttin' yet’.

not just ˈyet

not now but probably quite soon: I can’t give you the money just yet.

there’s ˌlife in the old dog ˈyet

(humorous) a person is old but is still active and enjoys life: At 70 he’s decided to go round the world. There’s life in the old dog yet! ♢ I’m not too old to enjoy myself! There’s life in the old dog yet, you know.

so ˌnear and ˌyet so ˈfar

used to describe a situation in which somebody is very near to success, but finally fails: He came second in the piano competition, only one point behind the winner. So near and yet so far.

See also: and, far, near, yet

as ˈyet

until now or until a particular time in the past: an as yet unpublished report ♢ As yet little is known about the disease.

See also: yet

Are we having fun yet?

and AWHFY

sent. & comp. abb. This isn’t the fun that you stated or implied it would be, is it? Are we having fun yet? This is really dull. Gr8t d8t! AWHFY?

as yet

Up to the present time; up to now.

See also: yet

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

so near and yet so far

Nearby but still unattainable. This term appeared in the Roman writer Martial’s Epigrams (ca. a.d. 85) but apparently did not enter the English language for some time. Tennyson used it in “In Memoriam” (1850): “He seems so near and yet so far.”

See also: and, far, near, yet

wet behind the ears, (still)

Immature, inexperienced. This term refers to the fact that the last place to dry on a newborn colt or calf is the indentation behind its ears. Although the observation is surely older, the term dates from the early twentieth century. J. F. Straker used it in his novel A Coil of Rope (1962): “You’re still wet behind the ears, darling. It’s time you grew up.”