A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

you tell me • you’re telling me
you tell me —I don’t know; I have no idea: “How can we
possibly get through this week with just this amount of
money?” “You tell me.”
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase you tell ’em— used to agree with or encourage smb. in
what he is saying: “Keeping the bridge closed might be incon-
venient….” “You tell ’em,” said Johnnie.
you’re telling me —I know it very well; it is so clear that it
need not be said: “It’s a bad corner. You can’t turn.” “You’re
telling me.”
young man • young person
young man —
1
. a boyfriend; a sweetheart : Whom is she
shielding? Either her father or her young man. Is it her father?
2. is used as a familiar or condescending form of address: Lis-
ten, young man, you’re headed for some serious trouble.
young person —
1
. a young woman: There lived a young per-
son at Loudun from whom he could not resolve to be sepa-
rated. 2. (legal) a person generally between 
1
4 and 
1
7 years of
age: For more serious offences, a young person who is 
1
4 years
of age or more can be transferred to adult court.
young tartar • young turk
young tartar —(UK rare) a naughty boy; an obstinate person:
We all know what a young tartar the Vole is when his sarcastic
tongue is working.
young turk —(UK) an aggressive person who has modern
opinions and tries to change the old ways: They’ve put together
a top-notch list of speakers, (which makes me wonder how a
young turk such as myself is giving the keynote!).
your actual • yours truly
your actual —(colloquial or humorous) said of the original or
genuine person or thing: This ring wasn’t cheap, you know.
It’s your actual gold.
yours truly —
1
. (humorous) me, myself, or I: He never grad-
uated, but his business ability rivaled anyone’s, yours truly
included. 2. (formal) written at the end of a letter, followed
by the sender’s name: An oddity connected with the Ripper
was that he had christened himself in his letter to a news
agency signed “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper.”