Silent Sam

• silent Sam

From silent (“speechless, mute”) + Sam (“diminutive of male given name Samuel”). From ante 1920.

• IPA^(key): /ˌsaɪlənt ˈsæm/

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Silent Sam (plural Silent Sams)

1. (informal, sometimes used attributively) A person who seldom or never speaks; a taciturn or unresponsive individual.
   • 1983, "Sam Pierce Hangs Tough," Black Enterprise, vol. 13, no. 8 (Mar.), p. 43:

     But because Pierce has usually avoided the news media and gone about his work in the quiet behind-the-scenes way that brought him eminence as a top New York City litigator, the press has derisively tagged him "Silent Sam."

   • 2002, Jack Womack, Going, Going, Gone‎, →ISBN, page 47:

     Now he threw the Silent Sam treatment on me.

   • 2008, Sara Pope, Team Leader Workbook, →ISBN, p. 4-31:

     It's hard to get input from the Silent Sam even with a direct question—this person just doesn't have anything to say.

   • 2011, Linda Carter Sobell, Mark B. Sobell, Group Therapy for Substance Use Disorders, →ISBN, p. 205:

     With Silent Sam clients it is important for group leaders to make active and continuous efforts to get them involved in the group.

2. (informal, by extension) A machine, device, etc. which operates without making noticeable sound.
   • 1919, Victor Appleton, chapter 17, in Tom Swift and His Air Scout:

     "I've named my new noiseless aeroplane—Army Air Scout—I've named that Silent Sam. Wait until you hear it, or rather, don't hear it, and I think you'll agree with me. Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!"

   • 1977, Richard West, "Reporter: Law and Order," Texas Monthly, vol 5, no. 7 (July), p. 64:

     Or if you're a coward, there's Silent Sam ($1950), an automated early-warning safety robot flagman.

3. (informal) A mixed alcoholic beverage, usually containing vodka, a cola soft drink, and other ingredients.
   • 2010, "Silent Sam Mix Cocktail Recipe," www.1001cocktails.com (retrieved 20 April 2011):

     Ingredients: 13 oz vodka, 1 liter cola, (pepsi, coca cola...), 6-10 scoops iced tea. . . . Add all ingredients to a punch bowl.

• Usage was popularized by the wordless Silent Sam comic strip, created by Oscar Jacobsson in 1920. However, there were earlier usages, especially as a nickname for sports celebrities.

• Alibi Ike, Dapper Dan, doubting Thomas, fancy Dan, Gentleman Jim, gloomy Gus, good-time Charlie, nervous Nellie, plain Jane

• Simentals, Tamilness, maltiness, salt mines, saltmines, smaltines