The Sun is over the yardarm

The yardarms on a sailing ship are the horizontal timbers or spars mounted on the masts, from which the square sails are hung. (The word yard here is from an old Germanic word for a pointed stick, the source also of our unit of measurement.) At certain times of year it will seem from the deck that the sun has risen far enough up the sky that it is above the topmost yardarm. In summer in the north Atlantic, where the phrase seems to have originated, this would have been at about 11am. This was by custom and rule the time of the first rum issue of the day to officers and men (the officers had their tots neat, the men’s diluted). It seems that officers in sailing ships adopted a custom, even when on shore, of waiting until this time before taking their first alcoholic drink of the day.

Can we have a drink? Yes, the sun is over the yardarm!

by MorkFromOrk December 18, 2011

Yardley Cat

Something once respected, revered, or liked, but is which is eventually discarded.

Kelly: "What happened to her best friend? I thought they were so close they were inseparable."

Cathy: "Yea I was surprised, too, but once she used her to get what she needed, she tossed her away like a Yardley cat!"

by singletrackmind May 29, 2023

fifty yard fake out

A girl who from a distance of fifty yards away appears to be hot, but as you continue to approach you realize that many features that you could not previously see cause her to be in fact unattractive.

Alex to Jeff as they walk to class: Dude check out that blonde girl up ahead, I'm gonna get her number.
After they walk past without stopping to talk: Ok nevermind she was just a fifty yard fake out.

by pearljamhead9 November 13, 2007

50 yard fakeout

When a girl looks really good from far away, but looks bad when she gets close

"Man, that girl is hot!" nevermind, that was a 50 yard fakeout

by Bengalsfan June 18, 2008

yard taint

The area of grass between the curb and the sidewalk.

Hey Bobby! You're grass is looking really green, especially in your yard taint.

by Johnny Yardrocks March 23, 2005

Yardstick

A One Hundred Dollar Bill

“How much is that sack gonna run me?”

“Throw me a yardstick”

by meanstreetsreggie August 17, 2019

Yard Breather

Name given to firefighters who mask up and breath air from their air packs before they are even out of the truck or close to the actual structure fire. Common to see new firefighters going "on air" before it is necessary.

Did you see him getting off the truck already on air? What a yard breather.

by rcovfd September 17, 2010