Why, when and to whom do we say "yes sir"?

Question

to whom do we use the word sir for. Is it someone you don't know or someone of higher authority.

Answer 1

The referee

Answer 2

This has changed in the past 20 years. The trend is toward less formality. I think, right now, you might use "sir" in the following situations:

+ Legal authorities (police officers, judges)
+ Military, to higher ranking officer (obviously)
+ Your father-in-law initially if you are a man
+ Customer Service where the guy looks pissed or full of himself

Right now, I would not use "sir" anymore with your boss. It is a sign of weakness and insecurity in the business culture right now. Unless you know your boss gets off on it and you want to brown-nose him, puff him up, stay away from it.

Funny, I think it used to be common to use sir with any older man, and even with your own dad.

Times have changed.

Answer 3

Sir is a term of respect for a man.

This person is most likely to be older than you, of a higher social position than you, or a higher up in a business relationship.

Answer 4

This is a tricky question because it depends on what dialect of English you speak. In the Southern United States it is quite common to use "Yes, sir" when answering any yes-no question to a male who is older than you. But in other dialects of English it is yes common. To some speakers of English "Yes, sir" sounds only like something that a soldier would say to a superior in the military.

Answer 5

When in doubt, always use the suffix "sir" when addressing ANY male either in the business profession or on the street. It(the prefix "sir") should also be used for addressing other men you've just meet even if they are your age or older, or even if they are not in the same "working bracket" as you are. Or, as my grandfather, a former Marine Corps. Sargent always says, "When in doubt Shout it OUT!!!".

Answer 6

I don't think I ever say "yes sir" seriously, but when I was in customer service I would say "Excuse me sir..." and in that case I just used it because I didn't know them, not necessarily because they are older and definitely not because they are higher authority. But other guys have told me that they are offended when someone calls them sir because they think it implies they're old.

Answer 7

I think both, when I was in a Annie play, in school and camp, I was in it twice, one I was Tessie and the other I was Drake, and he used to say Yes Sir, all the time to Daddy Warbucks, with a british accent, lol.
I think we say it out of respect, like ou can't just say hey man to a President.

Answer 8

Someone in authority (boss, teacher, etc) or someone older then you. Or if your like me to your parents when your in trouble!
Depends on how polite you are. It is very respectful to address people older then you as 'Sir' and 'Mam'. Depends on your relationship with the person - usually you wouldn't refer to your grandparents that way. I feel really old when my kids friends refer to me as 'mam'.

Answer 9

I'm from Texas and say "sir" or "ma'am" to almost everyone. Anyone older, bosses, officials, etc. We even use it with children to get their attention! (ex: "No, sir, you will NOT climb on that!") Basically, it's just plain polite. I don't use it on friends, but that's the only people I don't use it on. I guess because it's a bit of formal politeness? I dunno, that's just how it works here!

Answer 10

It's noted as a sign of respect- you say "yes sir" to your elders AND your superiors, and also, at times, to an unfamiliar equal. It shows people that you respect them as people.

Answer 11

This depends on where you may live, what you may do, or as to ethnic heritage which calls for such a title being expected in use. The question you asked could take 40 paragraphs to post answer to, due to the broadness in possibility of which the question calls answer for.