Check out the big brain on MJ
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A couple of posts ago I used the phrase “no siree” and then I Googled it just to make sure I spelled it correctly. I like to attempt to be accurate over here so I routinely double check stuff.
Initially I typed it in as one word and Google politely asked me “Did you mean: no siree?” Why yes, Master Google, now that you ask, I did mean no siree as two words, not one. I appreciate that gentle, constructive correction.
More importantly, from the search I found an interesting discussion on the phrase no siree. It seems Antonio, whose native language is Spanish, was questioning exactly when to use that phrase.
I thought it was so entertaining I would like to share it with all of you now.
Antonio: Hi Group, What does “No siree” means? and in what context can I say this phrase?
Lsp: No siree and Yes siree are just ways to accentuate the response. Very casual usage only.
JLanguage: The phrase that sticks out in my mind is, “No siree Bob” I personally have never said that phrase and do not intend to use it in the near future.
Antonio: In what specific cases, do you recommend to use this phrase? I guess probably, when you’re emphasizing something? Is rude to say it, in front of people you don’t know?
Jacinta: No siree is not necessarily rude, it’s just very informal. I say it to my kids (students) occasionally, just to be funny. It’s just an add on to the word no
mjscott: I think that “No, siree,” and “Yes, siree,” “Yessiree,” and “Yes, siree, Bob” are all casual way of saying, “You better believe it!”
You would think that it was a derivation of, “Yes, sir,” and “No, sir,” — which are respectful ways to answer someone — but the terms are not thought of as particularly respectful ways of answering someone, but casual-type answers.
John Steinbeck is the first known author that I know of to use, “Yessiree,” often in dialogue in his books.
JLanguage: There’s no need to use it. It’s really not at all commonly used anymore, if it ever was popular in the first place. If you really want to use it, I suggest the following context:
“So, Antonio, were you at that party the other night?”
“No siree, I was home studying.”Although I would say:
“Naw man”, I was freaking studying. (Very Colloquial, Don’t use except among good friends. Possibly offensive.)
Antonio: Hi Jlanguage, What does “Naw man” and “I freaking studying” mean? (Very Colloquial, Don’t use except among good friends. Possibly offensive.)
mjscott: “Naw man” and “I was freaking studying”
“Nosiree!” I was f***ing studying!”
Antonio: Teenagers say more often “Naw man” or adults say it also?
JLanguage: It’s more teenage slang. Teenagers often tend to colloquialize (yea, I made a new verb) speech to an extent that adults usually avoid in order to sound intelligent rather than moronic.
Apus: and don’t forget “Yessireema’m”!
VenusEnvy: I always thought that “No, siree” was derived from, “No, sir”. Now, it seems to be a colloquial phrase.
“Have you seen Amber since she went on vacation last summer?”
– “No, siree!”“Do you plan on doing all of your homework tonight?”
– “No, siree!”“Naw” is a more colloquial way of saying, “No”.
“Naw, man” is a more colloquial way of saying, “No, man”.“Do you wanna go to the movies tonight?”
– “Naw, man. I havta baby-sit my little sister.”“Did you get to finish taking the test before class ended?”
– “Naw, man. I couldn’t finish the last page.”garryknight: And “Yessireebob”! (in response to Apus).
I really enjoyed this engaging discussion which was all for the benefit of Antonio. Young Antonio seems so earnest in his effort to learn American slang. And then he goes above and beyond to learn the meaning of “Naw man” asking if it is just for teenagers or adults as well. I like Antonio’s attention to detail.
But I have to say I found JLanguage a tad pretentious. S/He’s really never used that phrase in the past and doesn’t intend to use it in the near future? Kindly remove the stick, JLanguage.
Also I want to call JLanguage JMoney. I don’t know why that is.
And p.s. JLangage. You did not make up a new verb when you used colloquialize. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt, however, and assume you said that for humorous emphasis.
In addition, I though mjscott was a bit of a show off when s/he said, “John Steinbeck is the first known author that I know of to use, “Yessiree,” often in dialogue in his books.” Although s/he did qualify that statement with “that I know of.”
And lastly, I couldn’t help but think of this quote from “Pulp Fiction,” “Check out the big brain on MJ! You’re a smart motherf*cker.”
Good luck on learning your new slang, Antonio. But I don’t think you’re going to have any problems. No siree, Bob.
i think it’s fun to read where expressions originated from. a lot of times we don’t know the meaning of them, or the spelling, we just know when to use them. or is that just me.
jmoney sounds like a rapper. i bet you he would like that and would consider changing his name.
where does the ree come from in no siree….maybe it’s no, sorry. seems like a combination of two words and mj scott is not a show off, but a future jeopardy contestant. i applaud him/her for the extra credit information.
I like that explanation of where the “ree” comes from. It makes sense to me.
I guess I’m not easily impressed when it comes to MJ’s big brain? I still think he was showin’ off.
That is funny. You know, I had an English teacher that always used no siree when we asked her to do something. About that time in history, we were learning about the knights and nobles and other such fascinating stuff during the medieval time period, so one day I corrected her (just being funny of course) and said “Mrs. Wesley, I believe you mean ‘no sire.’”
She just about lost it laughing, so the rest of the year she said “no sire.”
Aren’t you the clever one, Sal. Pretty good, sire!
Lol….I’m pretty sure I have been known to say “no siree bob” on occasion. Oops. *flushes in embarrassment*
In response to natural’s comment. I just assumed that the ree came from the accent of the original speakers. In my mind, this always seemed like a Southern / rural phrase and the accent just became stronger due to the emphasis on the last syllable. I have no idea why I think that but apparently that’s how it works in buffyland.
I know I’ve used no siree bob liberally and I will continue to do so. Now and in the future.
How funny that you imagine it’s someone with a Southern accent. That thought has never passed my mind. Although I’ve always lived in the midwest, so maybe I’ll have to find someone with a southern accent to say No siree to me. I like buffyland, it’s a fun place to visit.
alright buf, just when i was thinking my “ah-ha” and “by george, i think she’s got it” gene was starting to kick in and my light bulb was a steady on, not a flicker, you go and blow my fuse. lol.
off to do my own MEsearch until i find an answer that submits to me. and pick up a new fuse.
“i’ll be back.”
Oooh. I can’t wait to hear what you find. And I think we all heard Arnold’s voice when you said “I’ll be bock.”
Aw, Antonio seems like such a sweet guy, but the others were just showing off.
That Antonio does seem like a gentle soul, doesn’t he?
I fear for Antonio if he’s really trying to learn American online, LOL.
Back when I was first on the internet I had a friend from France and he told me that he liked getting my e-mails because he learned more about how to speak American from the slang I used.
My response was “OH GOD, don’t visit America and start speaking the way that I do in e-mails to you!”
I wasn’t saying anything rude, just stuff like “nodamene” and “fiddnuh”.
I would love to meet someone who has learned English from you Angelika. That would be much fun! And with a French or Italian accent, it would be even better.
VenusEnvy says “I always thought that “No, siree” was derived from, “No, sir”. Now, it seems to be a colloquial phrase.” Are derivations and colloquial phrases mutually exclusive?
Always amusing to see some Internet Commenter Archetypes in action, like JLanguage, aka the Killjoy.
My English penpal (yes, THAT one), came to the States for the first time in the 80s and went back with a love of “No Siree, Bob!” and pickled cucumbers, which he had never heard about nor tasted.
I’ll have to get my girl Natural working on that one as well, Becky. Isn’t it fun when someone learns a phrase from another culture and then adopts it as their own? I’ve recently learned the phrase “It’s just a way to put my back straight.” Cate should know where that came from. And I rather like it.
I can’t help but think all those people have way too much time on their hands!
They do, but so do I and I like seeing how others whittle theirs away.
Lol Natural…I wasn’t mocking your “ah-ha” and “by george, i think she’s got it” gene …lol It’s just what I always assumed, with absolutely nothing to base it on. And we all know what happens when you assume right”? I make an A$$ out of U and ME (Thank you Mr. Vreeland, my high school geometry teacher).
I’ll be interested to know what you find out…good hunting.
I think I like the name Mr. Vreeland. I might have to utilize that somehow. Oh yeah. I know Natural loves you and you love Natural and I love you both, yada yada (smiles wide like a jackass)
i’m just kidding ya buf and btw, where is your blog, i want to see what’s in your head, please. turns out i’m as dumb as a rock and don’t know jack shet. siree (slang) is used as an intensifer, usually after yes or no. never after maybe. i thought it was a derivative caused by a slurred tongue from someone too lazy to enunciate their words: no + sorry + bob. then some smart a** had to go and emphasize the ee sound at the end while rocking back and forth on their heels while pulling on their suspenders thereby giving birth to: no, siree bob!
i did find this explanation about bob, though probably wrong, interesting: in this phrase bob is used as a euphemism for god, a form that has been around since the mid-19th century and which is also used in the exclamation s’help me bob!
you don’t even want to know what i found out about no, siree bud. i had to look away cause i was getting obsessive. i’m still not satisfied. i emailed a man who knows a man who might know a man that might know the answer. my silly gene is out and about cardiogirl. my apologies, barbara!
Hey Natural maybe we can get buf to create a blog if we both keep asking her. I still think you could make it on Jeopardy with the knowledge you have and the ability to deduce stuff. I still buy your original explanation.
And you earn the Gold Star of the Day here in the Lounge for that totally awesome, incredible visual of the dude rocking back and forth on his heels pulling his suspenders. BRILLIANT!
p.s. Now I’m gonna have to go back and find the other Gold Stars of the Day and paste this graphic so I’m not playing favorites :)
Once again, the discussion in the lounge is slaying me almost as much as your original post, CG! Glad to know there are funny people in the house!
Last night, while trying to get my wee ones to bed, I told them to “Lie down, you dastardly devil.” Followed by, “Go to sleep, you slippery serpant,” and “Don’t make a peep, you portly pig!” Of course, this ended up having the opposite effect (or is it affect? – oh, help me cyberland intelligence)! They frolicked for a long time with those phrases.
As I dropped them off at pre-school this morning, I heard them saying it again to each other. Perhaps, they will start a new trend and one day we’ll find Cardiogirl, or Natural or someone else, clarifying that the first time they heard it used was by Wendy from “Of Books and Boys!” Ha!
This is duly noted in my trying-to-be-photographic memory on this 12th day of February in the year 2009. Now I need to start making dinner so I better not make another peep, lest I be a portly pig.
And as for affect vs. effect I hate to admit this but I usually avoid using those two because I struggle with it. If forced I believe affect is in regard to behavior and effect is something directly produced from the event (cause and effect). But in your scenario either one could work based on my definition. (Runs and hides in shame.)
That exchange is so funny. Antonio was so earnest haha. It’s amazing the resources on the internet for someone like him…
“Why yes, Master Google, now that you ask, I did mean no siree as two words, not one.”
Too funny – I do that CG. When I mistype something into Google, it will say “Did you mean…” and I always say (sometimes out loud), “Why yes, yes I did mean that.” :D
It is amazing what’s out there. I guess you just have to spend three minutes on Google to find whatever it is you’re looking for, eh?
Cg I haven’t been keeping up w/ you daily this week, I have to back track and I need some laughs tonight. I so appreciate you and the vp.
I think Google has made us all smarter. Really I do ;) Yes siree ma’m . And how do you suppose MJ knew about Steinbeck, I’ll take a bet it was Google.
And I use the word freakin’ a whole lot, just had to share.
I’m sorry to hear things are less than groovy, Heather, but I am glad the VIPers and I can provide a smile or two. I think I am actually smarter thanks to Google — I guess that ain’t sayin’ much for my public school education, eh? No siree it’s not. And I THOUGHT THE VERY SAME THING when I read about MJ’s take on Steinbeck.
I *should* use the word freakin’ more often but (cringes) the other one slips out occasionally and it’s always used inside my head. Thanks for sharing!
just here to pick up my award and upload it on to my fireplace mantel (flickr page). of course, i promise to keep it clean, dust and fingerprint free, so help me bob.
thanks girlfriend. it’s fun here, you have nice people.
grins and walks away while looking back over her shoulder at the audience like she stole something.
The only thing you stole was the show and my admiration :) And, um, can I see your flickr page? Please?
okay my face is beaming, just a bit.
http://flickr.com/photos/ntrlwmn
You are really too much fun, Natural, do you know that? I wish we worked in the same office together. We’d meet at the coffee maker and just look at each other over the tops of our glasses. Oh right, I’d have to look *up* to you betch, ’cause you’re taller than me. Dammit.
Anyway, we’d send emails back and forth, we’d go to lunch together and you’d be sick of me by Friday of my first work week.
i like to take my wig off occasionally – let the fun and cool breeze run over my bald head – it feels good.
girl if we worked in the same office, we’d be a mess! you’d be the playmate i never had. we could workout at the gym and peek at each other stats. i did that today to this woman and thought of you. i heard the commentator say over the loud speaker, but in his golf voice, a whisper: what was that move? valerie just stole a look at her competitor’s numbers when she wiped her mouth on her shoulder. that cardiogirlesque move puts her in the lead by 10 points under par ladies and gentlemen.
AND now that i’m losing inches around my belly and can actually see my feet again, i think i’m an inch taller. so yeah you would have to look up. but you could wear those high heel converse, i mean, it is an office.
let me get outta here. this is more than a comment. oh yeah thanks for my new title. i’m an honorary betch. yes! i’ll wear my title like a purple heart on my sleeve.
can today get any better? no siree bob!
It’s settled. I’m working where you work because you have a GYM ON THE PREMISES! Unbelievable. And the golf voice KILLED me. Well done! Way to perfect your smooth move.
You *are* an honorary betch. Only my best buds get that moniker.