Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for V600 returned 546 results.
UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS EXPRESSION IN THE U. S. ARMY IN 1947.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
CUSTOMARY SAYING
UP THE WOODEN HILL.
MEANS UP THE STAIRS AND TO BED.
Submitter comment: MY FATHER AND MOTHER USED TO SAY THIS.
Where learned: OHIO
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
Entry filtered.
RIDDLE
WHY IS BOWLING A QUIET GAME?
YOU CAN HEAR A PIN DROP.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): GAMES: BOWLING ; RIDDLING QUESTION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-30-1967
SUPERSTITION
IN GERMANY, INSTEAD OF SAYING KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED, THEY SAY
KEEP YOUR THUMBS PRESSED. MEANING THE THUMB OF EACH HAND TO A
FOREFINGER.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Gesture PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
THROW IT TO THE DIRT AND LET THE RAIN SETTLE IT.
Submitter comment: THIS MEANS TO PUT PROBLEMS ASIDE AND LET THEM WORK THEMSELVES OUT.
Where learned: NATIONAL BANK OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 09-00-1981
PROVERB
YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE
Submitter comment:
RHYME OF SNOOZE AND LOSE, REPETITION OF THE WORD YOU. USE OF
ELLIPSIS. IT MEANS TO ME THAT IF YOU ARE NOT ALERT YOU MAY MISS
SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
WEATHER PREDICTION
RAIN BEFORE SEVEN, QUITS BEFORE ELEVEN.
Submitter comment:
USE OF RHYME WITH THE WORDS SEVEN AND ELEVEN AND REPETITION OF THE
WORD BEFORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND LEDGE
James Callow Keyword(s): PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.465 PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
PROVERB
A BARKING DOG NEVER BITES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID IT MEANT THAT TALKING CAN PREVENT VIOLENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND LEDGE
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
PROVERB
A CHAMPAGNE APPETITE AND A BEER SALARY.
Submitter comment:
A MEANING GIVEN BY THE INFORMANT WAS, THAT IT MEANT LIVING ABOVE
YOUR INCOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND LEDGE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
PROVERB
DO NOT BUY A PIG IN A POKE.
Submitter comment: MEANS, DO NOT BUY THINGS BLINDLY; WITHOUT SEEING THE MERCHANDICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND LEDGE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
"YOU CAN SING UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER."
IN OTHER WORDS, WHATEVER IT IS WILL NOT GET DONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-00-1982
PICKLE
YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST THREE PLAYERS FOR THIS GAME. TWO PEOPLE WITH
MITTS ARE CATCHERS. THEY THROW THE BALL BACK AND FORTH LIKE
THEY'RE PLAYING CATCH. WHILE THEY'RE THROWING IT, THE RUNNERS
TRY TO RUN FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER BEFORE THE CATCHERS CAN
CATCH THE BALL AND TAG THEM. THE FIRST RUNNER TO TAG BASE THE
NUMBER OF TIMES DECIDED UPON AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME
(USUALLY 25 TO 35) GETS TO BE THE NEW CATCHER AND CHOOSE WHOMEVER HE
WANTS TO BE THE OTHER CATCHER. MM
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY RUNNERS THERE ARE. THEY CAN ALL RUN AT
THE SAME TIME, BUT THE MORE THERE ARE THE EASIER IT IS FOR THE
CATCHERS TO TAG SOMEONE. A RUNNER IS OUT WHEN HE HAS BEEN TAGGED
THREE TIMES. MM
THE GAME IS CALLED "PICKLE" BECAUSE RUNNERS OFTEN GET CAUGHT IN THE
MIDDLE AND MUST TRY RUNNING EACH WAY MANY TIMES UNTIL ONE OF THE
CATCHERS EITHER TAGS THEM OR MISSES THE BALL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS
THE RUNNER IS SAID TO BE IN A "PICKLE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GAP BETWEEN THEIR TEETH LIE A LOT. THIS IS
WHERE THE PHRASE "YOU'RE LYING BETWEEN YOUR TEETH" COMES
FROM.
Submitter comment:
SPACE BETWEEN TEETH
"YOU'RE LYING THROUGH YOUR TEETH."
SHE HAS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Folk etymology PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-11-1984
ONE DAY IN JUNE, WHEN MY FATHER WAS ALIVE,
THERE WAS A BAD STORM HEADED IN OUR DIRECTION.
AS MY FATHER LOOKED TO THE SKY HE SAID,
"WE BETER GET INSIDE, IT'S GOING TO RAIN LIKE
A COW PEEING ON A FLAT ROCK."
Submitter comment:
MY FATHER WAS RAISED A FARM BOY IN ILLINOIS;
THIS WAS A COMMON EXPRESSION THERE.
Where learned: GROSSE POINTE WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): URINATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 06-00-1975
THE ORIGIN OF AN OFTEN-USED PHRASE.
THE SAYING "THAT IS ONE FOR THE BIG WIGS" COMES FROM
THE COURTS OF ENGLAND WHEN THE LAWYERS ALL WORE WIGS
AND THE MOST KNOWLEDEGABLE OF THEM WORE THE BIGGEST WIGS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING SMOOTHLY, ONE SAYS, "WELL,
MAKES THE CHEESE MORE BINDING."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
SHE'S TOO STUPID TO POUR PISS OUT OF A BOOT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, IN HER LATE 50'S, NOW LIVES IN
CLAWSON AND HAS LIVED IN NEW YORK STATE BUT
UNDOUBTEDLY HAS LEARNED THIS ITEM IN KENTUCKY--
ASHLAND, KENTUCKY-- WHERE SHE GREW UP.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ASHLAND
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
In Thailand it is custom to save your cooked rice
in a special container. When using it some
should always be left on the bottom for a rainy
day, meaning that your family would never go
hungry.
Where learned: THAILAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00001960S