# Yes/No sirree, Bob!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 9, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283 "2003-07-09T18:15:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283/1 "2003-07-09T18:15:21Z")

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I found that [sirree](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sirree) means “Used for emphasis after yes or no.”

But who is Bob??

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**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283/2 "2003-07-09T19:52:26Z")

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I couldn’t find anything on who Bob is, but I did find that the phrase was first recorded in 1847 (though it seems to have been a spoken phrase for about 10 years prior to that).

Source: “A Dictionary of Catch Phrases American and British” by Eric Partridge.

I’ve never heard it as Yes sirree, only No Sirree (Bob).

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**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283/3 "2003-07-09T20:15:51Z")

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Bob’s your uncle.

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**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283/4 "2003-07-09T20:25:30Z")

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:insert Church of the SubGenius plug here:

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**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283/5 "2003-07-09T20:26:24Z")

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Not that you were asking for it, **furt** , but here’s what phrasefinder says about Bob’s Your Uncle:

> [@](#):
>
> One explanation of this curious phrase is its alleged use in Robert Peel’s campaign for a seat in Parliament. He was a ‘law and order’ man nicknamed Bob and ‘uncle’ was a term implying benefaction and protection: Vote for Bob – Bob’s your Uncle! Maybe.
> 
> Or –  
> ‘Uncle’ is British (as well as American) slang for ‘pawnbroker,’ and a pawnbroker is, presumably, a friend in need.
> 
> Or –
> 
> Another educated guess at its derivation relates to the appointment in 1887 of Arthur Balfour as Chief Secretary for Ireland by the then Prime Minister Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury, who happened to be Balfour’s uncle. This obvious act of nepotism was decried by many. The saying then went (if this derivation can be believed): You ask for the job – he remembers your name – and ‘Bob’s your uncle!

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**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-no-sirree-bob/187283/6 "2003-07-10T08:03:01Z")

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I thought it was “Yessiree, BUB.” 😕