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Retort

Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification

Where learned: Hickey, Thelma

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Lies ; Questions ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TRUTH ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Person asks a question. You answer:

"What's it to you? You writing a book?"

If the person says "Yes," you say:

"Well, leave this chapter a mystery!"

Data entry tech comment:

 

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Kunnath, Paulette

Keyword(s): BOOK ; Chapter ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Mystery ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Your teeth are like stars. They come out at night.

Submitter comment:

This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Diamond, Sue

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Night ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; STARS ; TEETH ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

You are so dumb that you could screw up a one-car funeral.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Just the hearse?

Where learned: Matouski, Nat

Keyword(s): Car ; COMEBACK ; Dumb ; Funeral ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

You're outstanding in your field, and that's where you should be - out standing in your field.

Submitter comment:

This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Taunt in Prose

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; Diamond, Susan

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Who do you think you are, anyhow?

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The original title [Wellerism] has been crossed out.

Why not S570? Retort? Yes.

Original BN [V500] crossed out. replaced with current classification.

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Belief: Marriage

Marriage Prediction:

Years ago, when the girls would wash clothes on the washboard and would get the front of their dresses sopping wet, everyone would say that she would marry a drunkard.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B662] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classifications.

P870 - Omen?

P545 - Belief about Marriage?

They don't believe it, but they say it when the occassion arises

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; Eberspacher, Mary R

Keyword(s): Dishes ; Domestic ; DRUNK ; Duties ; MARRIAGE ; PREDICTION ; Relationship ; RETORT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Marriage
SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

You should be on the stage, it's leaving in ten minutes.

Submitter comment:

This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Title [Taunt in Prose] crossed out. Replaced with current title.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; Diamond, Susan

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Shut up? I wasn't shut up, I was brought up, and when I think of you I throw up.

Submitter comment:

Collected upon hearing the informant answer someone who told him to shut up.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; Patrick, Richard

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

He thinks he's sharp just because his head comes to a point.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [Z210] crossed out replaced with current classifications.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Bonczyk, Bruce

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Did your mother have any children that lived?

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Sense?

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

You think you're funny but your face beat you to it.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Put-Down? Taunt?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Van Damme, Michael

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Funny ; HUMOR ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

"I doubt it"

Submitter comment:

A phrase used by high school students in reply to any question asked of them, particularly when a yes or no answer was involved mostly favoring the affirmative.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

A large question mark is written next to the collector's comment

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; Kelleher, M R ; LOS ANGELES

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Doubt ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Proverb

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Submitter comment:

Informant heard this in Detroit, MI

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The question [Proves what?] is written next to the collector comment.

Original BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Cissell, Robert Jr

Keyword(s): Appreciation ; COMEBACK ; Generous ; GIFT ; Grateful ; Greedy ; HORSE ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TEETH ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Retort

Does your face hurt? No? Well, it's killing me!

Submitter comment:

Heard it from a friend

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The original title [Jokes] has been crossed out. Replaced wtih current title.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; Moran, Midge

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; FACE ; Hurt ; INSULT ; Kill ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

When someone says "Go to Hell!"

Retort: "I've been there but I got kicked out for peddling water."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Orabel, Barbara

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; HELL ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; WATER ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Don't soft soap me.

Submitter comment:

Heard by informant in Detroit, MI

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Westrick, Evelyn

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Soap ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

...Says the pretty little bird on Nellie's hat.

(Variant of "Who are you kidding?")

Submitter comment:

Informant heard this often from Nellie Gaffney, a friend of informant's Irish grandmother, Rose Brady.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Westrick, Evelyn

Keyword(s): BIRD ; COMEBACK ; DISBELIEF ; Hat ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

You're as handy as a screen door in a submarine.

Submitter comment:

Learned from classmate at school

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; Gundlach, Gary ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Screen ; Submarine ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

YOU'RE LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS; GREEN AND WRINKLED.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Similar entries may be listed as Retort.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Bucks ; COLOR ; COMEBACK ; Dollars ; Green ; INSULT ; Million ; MONEY ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SIMILE ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 09-30-1967

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