have a yen for

1. 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.

Example Sentences

Inserting any creature that could be thought of as cuddly into a universe whose antagonists have a yen for ripping the skulls and spines from their victims is, at best, a test of customer loyalty.

Read more on Salon

A true food craving is sort of a slow burn — like when you, say, have a yen for Thai food — that will smolder until you eventually satisfy it, which could legitimately be days later when you have a chance to go to your favorite Thai restaurant.

Read more on Seattle Times

I’m telling you about this in hope that someone out there might have a yen for a bungalow court.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A true craving is more of a slow burn — like when you have a yen for a favorite dish or cuisine that you haven’t enjoyed for a while — that will smolder until you eventually satisfy it.

Read more on Washington Post

Sure, if you have a yen for a throwback action movie.

Read more on The Guardian

Related Words

• ache 
• chafe 
• covet 
• crave 
• hanker 
• hunger 
• itch 
• pine 
• thirst