Deprecated: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-search.inc.php on line 473
The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home
James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
search for

Offensive content Filter is ON

Your search for INSULT returned 164 results.

prev | items
| next

THE FACE

HIS FACE LOOKS LIKE THE SOUTH END (SIDE) OF A HORSE GOING NORTH.

Submitter comment: YOU CAN USE THIS RETORT ANYTIME SOMEONE IS BRAGGING OR PUTTING
SOMEONE ELSE DOWN AND YOU WANT HIM TO KNOW HE HAS NOTHING TO TALK
ABOUT.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; 1171 N RENAUD

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL COMPARISON ; EUPHEMISM FOR RUMP OF HORSE ; INSULT UGLINESS

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 02-25-1971

View just this record

Content filter on this entry.

I HAVE OBSERVED THIS GESTURE USED IN EVERY PART OF THE
COUNTRY AND IN EACH INSTANCE THE MANNER IN WHICH IT
WAS GIVEN AND THE INTENDED MEANING WERE THE SAME.
THE GESTURE IS CALLED EITHER SHOOTING THE BIRD
OR GIVING THE FINGER. THE GESTURE IS GIVEN BY
CLOSING THE FIST AND EXTENDING THE MIDDLE FINGER.
WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THE GESTURE MEANS "FUCK YOU"
TO THE PERSON IT IS GIVEN TO. I MYSELF KNOW THAT
THIS GESTURE HAS BEEN AROUND POPULARLY FOR AT
LEAST FIFTEEN YEARS.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; ASSUMED

Keyword(s): INSULT ; SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS

View just this record

Retort

What do you wnat? Eggs in your beer?

Submitter comment:

I heard this repeatedly when playing baseball in childhood days.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Something besides this must come first?

Usually in Singular?

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

Smart Aleck Saying:

Deaf in one ear, and can't hear in the other.

Data entry tech comment:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_folklorists

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DEAF ; Ear ; Hearing ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

A) "You dance very well."

B) "I wish I could say the same about you."

A) "Oh, you could, if you were as big a fibber as I am!"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Retort? Double A! A gives the punch line, not B.

The original Title [Smart Aleck Saying] has been crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DANCE ; Fibber ; INSULT ; Liar ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Language

He thinks he's bright just because his mother calls him sonny.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The title word PROSE is crossed out and replaced with the word RETORT

Original BN [Z210] crossed out / replaced with current classification

Written across top of card:

A retort to what? What IS the A? [Given as a retort]

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Bonczyk, Bruce

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; INSULT ; Language ; RETORT

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

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

View just this record

Retort

Oh, you have more troubles (or anything could be substituted for troubles...excuses, pains, etc.) than Carter has Little Liver Pills.

Submitter comment:

This informant would use this quip when belittling the complaints of her children.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Meehan, Frances A

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

God paid you back...

Submitter comment:

If, when you were teasing her, and you would hurt yourself, the informant would say this.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Callow has written some clarifying remarks on the card for grammatical purposes. example: Teasing Who? The Informant?

Where learned: Meehan, Maureen

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

Holy Toledo!

Submitter comment:

A short statement said when amazed.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [S586] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

Two retorts to the "Age Before Beauty" line are:

"Only in the dictionary" or,

"But Beauty was a HORSE."

Submitter comment:

These are lines frequently used in grade school.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The word Smart is crossed out from the title.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AGE ; BEAUTY ; COMEBACK ; Dictionary ; HORSE ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

Off the Cob.

Submitter comment:

A remark made after someone has expressed an inept idea or an idea lacking in social sophistication.

Informant heard this in Detroit, Michigan.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Westrick, Evelyn

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

Question: How are you?

Retort: Still Alive.

Submitter comment:

I've heard it used around UofD.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

"Doubting Thomas"

When someone tells you something which is hard to believe, a common reply is:

"I'm from Missouri - seeing is believing."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C870.570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; Francita, Sr M ; CHICAGO

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

To answer a "smart" question or statement:

At least I was born, not hatched.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Born ; COMEBACK ; Egg ; Hatched ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

Constantinople:

Constantinople is a very long word, and I bet you can't spell it.

Retort: I.  T. 

Submitter comment:

Informant heard it in 3rd or 4th grade.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [W400] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Gehringer, Edward J ; RICHMOND

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Constantinople ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Spell ; SPELLING ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

When someone called me a name when I was younger, I used to answer them with: "Don't call me your middle name."

Submitter comment:

This is something all the kids (on my block) used to say.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

When someone says "Well!" answer him by saying "That's a mighty deep subject for such a shallow mind."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Wechter, Doug D

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

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

"A man running by for his life would never notice it."

Submitter comment:

Granny Clisdale used to admonish someone worrying over inicental details with this retort.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; Clisdale, Mrs Rosemary

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DEATH ; incidental ; INSULT ; LIFE ; Notice ; RETORT ; RUNNING ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Retort

You make a better door than you do a window.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

[When said? When someone gets in the way?]

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Door ; INSULT ; Obstruction ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; View ; Window ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

prev | items
| next

Back to Top