aye, aye, Sir
English
Phrase
- Alternative form of aye aye, sir.
- 1782 February 16, Joseph Price, A Letter to Sir Phil[ip] Jen[nings-]Clerke, Chairman of the Committee of the House of Commons, to Whom the Petition of Benjamin Lacam, Sole Proprietor of New Harbour in Bengal, Was Referred, London: […] [F]or the author, published 1783, →OCLC, page 102:
- [A]dviſe the Europe Captain to ſtand to the weſtward again on the ebb tide, and keep firing guns and burning lights, and he would ſoon find them.—O, the devil; all wrong again!—This is done on purpoſe to keep out of the way of the Company’s ſhips, becauſe they get more money by carrying in the country ones.—Note that, Purſer: Aye, aye, Sir—A ſail! a ſail! Another, another: Four, five Dutch, French, Engliſh; all ſtanding down upon us.
- 1979, John Drew, “Weather Willie”, in War Time Romances of Sailors, Bognor Regis, West Sussex: New Horizon, →ISBN, page 203:
- "[…] We will take off without delay before the weather shows further signs of deterioration." / "Aye, aye, Sir. May I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours to locate and sink her?"
- 1993, W. E. B. Griffin [pseudonym; William Edmund Butterworth III], chapter V, in Close Combat (The Corps; VI), New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, →ISBN, section 2, page 104:
- Colonel Wilson was a good Marine officer. Even when given an order he’d rather not receive, he said, “Aye, aye, Sir,” and carried it out to the best of his ability.
- 2002, Wallace Bruce, “Towards the End of Schooldays”, in John Paul Jones: Father of the United States Navy: U.S.S. Ranger—U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard—U.S.S. America, Lincoln, Neb.: Writers Club Press, →ISBN, page 22:
- “Mr. Paul, release that villain from the round house—bring him to me immediately.” / “Aye, aye, Sir, I shall do that with pleasure,” was the gardener’s reply.