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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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NOT TOO QUICK

AS SLOW AS MOLLASSES IN JANUARY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; FOOD ; WEATHER PROVERB

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January
BELIEF -- Measure of time Month
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 10-23-1968

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CROWS

AS THE CROW FLIES.

James Callow comment: INDICATAING A STRAIGHT LINE IN DISTANCE FROM ONE PLACE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BIRDS

James Callow Keyword(s): TO ANOTHER, RATHER THAN ACTUAL MILEAGE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 11-19-1968

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INDIAN EXPRESSION

A BAMBOO FISH TRAP
IN INDIA, A WORLDLY MAN WOULD BE COMPARED TO 'A BAMBOO FISH TRAP.'

Submitter comment: THE IDEA IS THAT TO MAKE A BAMBOO FISH TRAP THE BAMBOO
MUST BE CARVED TO ADMIT
THE FISH AND PREVENT HIS ESCAPE. WHEN APPLIED TO A MAN,
THIS MEANS HE IS BENT TO THE WORLD AND ITS PLEASURES, RATHER THAN
STRAIGHT AND SEEKING THE INFINITE.

Data entry tech comment: BUDDHA WEEPS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FISH ; HUMAN CREATION ; PLANT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

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EXPRESSION (SPEECH)

BEE'S KNEES
WHEN THIS GIRL WISHED TO EXPRESS THAT A THING OR IDEA WAS 'COOL' OR
GOOD IN SOME WAY, SHE WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS THE 'BEES KNEES' I HAVE
HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT IT WAS USED AS IN A SATIRICAL SENSE. PEOPLE
USE IT TO SORT OF MOCK AN OLD WAY OF EXPRESSING A PERSONS APPEAL
FOR A THING.

James Callow comment: A POPULAR EXPRESSION IN THE 1920S I BELIEVE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): INSECTS

James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 07-00-1966

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PREDICTION: AIRPLANES

IRON DEVILS IN THE SKY
BEFORE THERE WERE AIRPLANES PEOPLE USED TO SAY, 'IT WONT BE LONG
AND THERE WILL BE IRON DEVILS IN THE SKY.'

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER FATHER WHO WAS COMMENTING ON WHAT
OTHER PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THE INVENTIONS BEING MADE AROUND THE
TURN OF THE CENTURY. OBVIOUSLY SOME PEOPLE WERE RATHER AGAINST SOME
OF THE INVENTIONS BEING MADE AT THAT TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN CREATIONS ; PROPHESY ; RELIGION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 10-05-1971

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PROVERB

COME RIDDLE ME, RIDDLE ME,
RIDDLE ME.
NONE ARE SO BLIND
AS THEY THAT WONT SEE.'

Submitter comment: ORIGIN? GRANDMOTHER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PARADOX ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.600
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle
SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

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Phrase

COOKING WITH GAS

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): COOKING ; Gas ; MOVING ; Progress

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 10-24-1969

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POLISH PROVERB

CROCODILE'S TEARS.
LZY KROKODYLA. (POLISH)

Submitter comment: THIS EXPRESSION IS USED IN REFERENCE TO INSINCERITY. MY FATHER
KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): REPTILES? AMPHIBIAN?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 11-21-1967

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PROVERB

CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET TO IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ANTICIPATION ; OPTIMISM ; WORRY?

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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PROVERB

CRY OVER SPILT MILK.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): FOOD

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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SLEEP SAYING

DEAD TO THE WORLD.

Where learned: CHILDHOOD

Keyword(s): COSMOS

James Callow Keyword(s): ASLEEP

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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PROVERB

DEFICIENT:
WHAT YOU'VE GOT WHEN YOU HAVEN'T GOT AS MUCH AS YOU HAD
WHEN YOU HAD NOTHING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEFINITION

James Callow Keyword(s): VERBAL PLAY?

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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DOG IN A MANGER

DON'T BE A DOG IN THE MANGER.

Submitter comment: MARILOU'S INFORMANT WAS NORMA ALBUS, A NEIGHBOR IN HER OLD NEIGH-
BORHOOD, OF GERMAN-SCOTTISH EXTRACTION (57 YEARS) SHE SAID: MM[ DON'T BE A DOG IN THE MANGER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; MEANNESS

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

Date learned: 11-08-1972

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Entry filtered.

SAYING

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND PEOPLE WOULD GIVE THINGS AND TAKE THEM
BACK, THE CHILDREN WOULD SAY,
DON'T BE AN INDIAN GIVER.

Submitter comment:

I LEARNED THIS SAYING IN ABOUT 1950, IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): DEROGATORY TERM ; FUNCTION ; RACISM

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 05-12-1965

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PROVERB

DON'T GET YOUR TOGA IN A KNOT.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; IMPATIENCE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 00-00-1962

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PROVERB

DON'T TREAD ON THIN ICE.
FAVORITE EXPRESSION OF INFORMANT'S FATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): CLIMATE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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FOLK SPEECH

DRESSED OUT OF THE BANDBOX.

Submitter comment: MEANING DRESSED IN FINERY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; JONESBORO

Keyword(s): CLOTHING

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSED FIT TO KILL

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB

BETTER DOOR THAN A WINDOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST?

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FOLK SPEECH

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

Submitter comment: MEANING CORNERED

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; JONESBORO

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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EMPHATIC EXPRESSION

BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR.

Submitter comment: USED TO ADD EMPHASIS TO VALIDITY OF A PREVIOUS STATEMENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ECONOMICS

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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