sir sandwich

sir sandwich (plural sir sandwiches)

1. (military, slang) The practice of beginning and ending a sentence with the address of sir.

   Coordinate term: ma'am sandwich

   • 1977, Approach:

     "Yes, sir, I am wearing glasses, sir!" “Don't give me a sir sandwich! Since you are wearing glasses, you are an NFOC, not an AOC.

   • 2002, Nancy Mace, Mary Jane Ross, In the Company of Men: A Woman at the Citadel, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 176:

     I replied that he was, with a "sir sandwich" (wedging my response between "sir's").

   • 2009, Craig M. Mullaney, The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education, Penguin, →ISBN:

     “Sir, yes, sir.” “Are you at the Naval Academy?" “Sir, no, sir.” “Then stop making sir sandwiches, candidate. lt's 'yes, sir' or 'no, sir.'"

   • 2013, Martin L. Lockett, PALPABLE IRONY: LOSING MY FREEDOM TO FIND MY PURPOSE, Author House, →ISBN, page 123:

     Speaking of that, you will always address us with a 'sir sandwich.' A sir sandwich or a ma'am sandwich ... is you putting a sir or ma'am at the beginning of your sentence and at the end of your sentence.

   • 2014, David Lipsky, Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point, HMH, →ISBN, page 152:

     You will only say 'sir' at the beginning of the sentence. This is not the Marine Corps, this is the Army, we do not make sir sandwiches.

• don't call me sir, I work for a living