Contraction of ne + y.

nothing works! it's hopeless! it's no use!

(idiomatic) to have no responsibility (for it); to have no part (in it), to have nothing to do (with it)

negative form of y a-t-il; isn't there? aren't there? (after a modal adverb or jamais) there isn't, there aren't

there's a fine line between... (said of things that are very close to one another, such that one could easily lead to the other)

to fall for it, to be taken in, to be totally hoodwinked

(dated) to see stars after receiving a physical blow / (by extension) to be unable to see the finer details of a complex situation; (particularly) to fall for (a deception), to be taken in, to be totally hoodwinked

(informal) what can I say, there's no doubt about it, you have to admit it

youth isn't what it used to be! the youth are all rotten!

Alternative form of il n'y a pas le feu au lac