sir sandwich

plural sir sandwiches

1. slanggovernmentThe practice of beginning and ending a sentence with the address of sir.

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

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

   4 more examples

   "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.

   1977, Approach

   “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.'"

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

   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.

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

   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.

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