have a yen for

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Crave or desire, as in I have a yen for a thick juicy steak . The yen in this expression comes from the Chinese yan , meaning “a craving” (probably for opium). The term was first recorded in English in 1906.

Related Words

Word of the Day

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

have a word with have designs on

Browse