three bags full, sir

three bags full, sir

Used to sarcastically characterize someone who obsequiously accepts any order or demand, no matter how unwise or unreasonable. It's never wise to surround yourself with subordinates whose only contribution to your ideas is "three bags full, sir." You need people who will challenge you to think or act in ways you hadn't considered.
See also: bag, sir, three
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(yes sir, no sir) three bags ˈfull (sir)

(old-fashioned, humorous) said when you agree to do something that somebody asks you but think that they are rather rude or unreasonable: Our new manager doesn’t want to hear our opinions, all he wants is, ‘Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir.’This phrase is from the nursery rhyme, ‘Baa, baa, black sheep’.
See also: bag, full, three
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • three bags full
  • yes sir, yes sir, three bags full, sir
  • dance attendance (up)on (someone)
  • dance attendance on
  • dance attendance on somebody
  • (Is) that everything?
  • vote of confidence
  • nugget
  • nugget of information
  • be a barrel of laughs
References in periodicals archive
If I was expecting the 'Yes, Sir, No, Sir, three bags full, Sir' treatment I was soon disabused.
At what price some courtesy?
Mr Thomson, the ``yes sir, no sir, three bags full, sir'' world is dead and gone and good riddance.
Letter: Khaki nostalgia
Tony may privately be irritated but it's still case of: "Yes, sir, no sir, three bags full, sir", as the Government jumps through hoops and sets up a flurry of new committees and inquiries to placate the Prince.
Joan Burnie THE WEEK IN HER OWN WORDS; Choking on the PM's GM