# Up the / out the "ying yang"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-out-the-ying-yang/165476>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 31, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-out-the-ying-yang/165476 "2003-03-31T16:39:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-out-the-ying-yang/165476/1 "2003-03-31T16:39:13Z")

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Where did the phrases “up the ying yang” and “out the ying yang” come from? Anyone?

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-out-the-ying-yang/165476/2 "2003-03-31T18:06:59Z")

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I think it was the same place where “out the wazoo” came from.

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**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-the-out-the-ying-yang/165476/3 "2003-03-31T18:46:33Z")

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I’d have to google to find out waht a wazoo is, but of course a ying yang is a design made by placing two equal circles inside a larger circle to exactly fill it, then dividing them with the “S” shape they make into two hemispheres.

Used in the OP’s context because of its resemblance (somewhat) to an anal fistula.