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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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Proverb

Old Proverb:

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Submitter comment:

Informant's grandmother says this quite often.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V400] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; McClain, Maureen ; 12634 W McNichols

Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; Improvement ; Pig ; Purse ; Silk ; Sow ; UGLINESS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

The word [Reverse??] is written across the top of the entry.

Keyword(s): Cake ; Consume ; Eat ; Eat ; have ; Own ; PARADOX ; POSSESSION ; Spoiled

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

watch pot never boils.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

A?? watch ed??  pot never boils

Original BN [V600] crossed out. replaced with current classifications.

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO ; Sister Leonard

Keyword(s): Boil ; METAPHOR ; PATIENCE ; Pot ; View ; Watch ; WATER

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

What's good for the Goose is good for the Gander.

Submitter comment:

This originated from mother of informant

The name Mrs. Lucy Perry is crossed out from the top right hand corner of the submission card

Data entry tech comment:

 

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V200, C880.200] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: Owens, Mrs G

Keyword(s): BIRDS ; Equality ; Fair Play ; FOWL ; Gander ; Goose ; METAPHOR

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

A stitch in time saves nine

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Keyword(s): Nine ; NUMBER ; PREVENTION ; Stitch ; TIME

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Language: Games

Pastime:

If you see another child with money you yell- "Butts on you." He then must share anything he buys with that money with you. However, when he pulls out his money, if he yells - "fan butts" first, then he doesn't have to share his purchases.

Submitter comment:

Bill used to play this as a child when he was given money, or if one of his friends was given money. He said it was common to yell this.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Miscellaneous grammar correction written on card.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Felsenfeld, William

Keyword(s): Buy ; CHILDREN ; Currency ; Dollars ; GAME ; MONEY ; Own ; Ownership ; Pastime ; Purchase ; Share

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
SPEECH -- Formula

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Proverb

It is always darkest before dawn.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

small grammatical corrections.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Freeman, William ; UTICA

Keyword(s): Dark ; Dawn ; Hope ; LIGHT ; METAPHOR ; NATURE ; Sky

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Play on Words

A specimen is an Italian astronaut.

Submitter comment:

I heard this while I was at Sacred Heart Seminary

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional. Do not file yet.

Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; Italian ; Language ; PUN ; Spaceman ; Specimen ; TRANSLATION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

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Play on Words

A bachelor is a man who believes in wine, women, and so long.

Submitter comment:

I heard this at Awrey's Bakery when I worked there last summer

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional - Do Not File Yet.


Keyword(s): Bachelor ; PUN ; SONG ; Wine ; WOMEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

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Content filter on this entry.

Play on Words

Traveling Salesman:

There was once a traveling salesman whose car broke down in the rain. He ran to the closest farmhouse and quickly knocked at the door. An old farmer answered and the salesman pleaded for a place to spend the night.

"I'll give you board," the farmer said, "but I ain't got no daughter for you to sleep with."

"Oh." said the salesman. "Then how far is the next house?"

Submitter comment:

I remember this from Awrey's Bakery, where I worked this summer.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional - Do Not File Yet.

Keyword(s): Anti-feminist ; CUSTOMS ; DAUGHTER ; FARMER ; HOSPITALITY ; HUMOR ; JOKE ; Rain ; Salesman ; Stranded

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
Filter - Mature Content

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Play on Words

Women's Clothing:

Nothing can replace today's women's bathing suit; in fact, it already has.

Submitter comment:

Heard this at Awrey's Bakery where I worked last summer.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional - Do Not File Yet.

Keyword(s): Bathing Suit ; Bikini ; Fashion ; Female ; Girl ; HUMOR ; JOKE ; PUN ; WOMEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

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Toast

May you be in Heaven a half an hour before the Devil knows your dead.

Submitter comment:

Well Wish

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Called a Toast by others.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; Gibbons, Mary Clare

Keyword(s): DEATH ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TIME ; TOAST ; Well Wish

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

When someone tells you his accomplishments in some particular event, a common retort is to say "What do you want me to do, pin a rose on your nose?"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Grammatical corrections.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; McCully, Jim

Keyword(s): Accomplishment ; COMEBACK ; NOSE ; Prize ; RETORT ; Rose ; Win

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Toast

Are you making food for thrashers?

Submitter comment:

This question is usually directed toward the woman of the house who is preparing a large dinner.

Informant's Comment: An Indian custom at thrashing-time is for all the farmers to meet at one farm to help thrash the wheat. The women prepare the noon meal for the thrashers. In the same sense "making food for thrashers" implies a large amount or an overabundance.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V400] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: Stevens, Susan ; 7806 13th St ; WASHINGTON DC

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; FARMING ; FOOD ; RETORT ; Thrashers ; Wheat

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Lebanese expression "Ya Adrah" which translated means "Mother of God, Help"

Submitter comment:

Is often (frequently) used when someone slips or barely misses hurting themselves.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Grammatical corrections.

Where learned: HOME ; Mansour, Zahia

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; ETHNIC ; God ; Help ; Lebanese ; MOTHER ; RETORT

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Old saying for Italians when they are astonished is "Mama Mia."

It means "My Mother."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [S550] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME ; Craprotta, Mrs K

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; ETHNIC ; Italian ; RETORT ; Saying

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

If someone is giving you a made up excuse and they are doing a poor job of pulling the wool over your eyes then merely say:

Tell it to Murphy, McCarthy already heard it.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Kelly, Geraldine

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; EXCUSE ; McCarthy ; Murphy ; RETORT ; Wool

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

Question - Who was your servant last year?

Answer - No one...that's why I have you!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The words [Smart Aleck Saying] are crossed out from the top of the card.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Sister St Peter

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; RETORT ; Servant ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

"Please help me out..."

"Sure, Which way did you come in?"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The words [Smart Aleck Saying] are crossed out on the top of the submission card.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Sister St Peter

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Retort

"You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn."

Submitter comment:

We would say this to someone who had poor aim.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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