Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for S550 returned 108 results.
IN THAILAND, IT IS CONSIDERED A TREMENDOUS COMPLIMENT
TO CALL A WOMAN AS BEAUTIFUL AS A WHITE ELEPHANT.
Where learned: THAILAND
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
SPEECH
A COLONEL IS CALLED A "FULL BULL."
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 01-30-1970
MARTINI'S LAW
MARTINI'S LAW STATES THAT FOR EVERY 50 FEET THE SCUBA DIVER DESCENDS
THE EFFECT OF THE NITROGEN UPON HIM IS EQUIVALENT TO DRINKING ONE
MARTINI. THIS THEORY IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN FORMULATED BY THAT GREAT
ITALIAN SKIN DIVER, MARTINI. THIS LAW HAS GIVEN TO THE SAYING THAT
"YOU SHOULDN'T DRINK AND DIVE."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS TONGUE IN CHEEK, EVENTHOUGH THE EFFECT OF BREATHING NITROGEN
UNDER PRESSURE IS SIMILAR TO DRINKING, OR PERHAPS, BECAUSE OF IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MILITARY
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
VOCABULARY OF THE NUNS
HE SAYS THAT HIS NUNS WHEN HE WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BELIEVED THAT
IF HE PRONOUNCED AUNT LIKE "ANT" (LIKE MOST PEOPLE DO) THAT THEY
WOULD TAKE HIM AND STEP ON A REAL "ANT" AND SUPPOSEDLY TELL HIM THAT
IF HE DIDN'T PRONOUNCE AUNT LIKE AUNT THAT EVERYTIME HE SAID AUNT
THE WRONG WAY AND THEY WOULD STEP ON AN ANT THAT SOMETHING WOULD
HAPPEN TO HIS REAL AUNT
Where learned: REDFORD TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 09-18-1969
CYCLIST JARGON
"PULLING A HOLE SHOT" - SQUEAL YOUR TIRES TRYING TO GET A FAST
TAKEOFF. GO THROUGH EVERY GEAR IN THE CAR AND LEAVE A CLOUD OF SMOKE
AND LOTS OF RUBBER BEHIND YOU IN THE TAKEOFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 09-21-1969
PHRASE
ONE COULD DESCRIBE ANOTHERS ABSENCE AS A DISAPPEARING ACT AND SAY
THAT HE WAS "PULLING A HOUDINI."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
SLANG WORD
THE WORD "GROOVY" MEANS SOMETHING IS ADMIRED, LIKED, THOUGHT WELL OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-15-1969
SLANG WORDS
THE WORD "MELLOW" MEANS SOMETHING IS ADMIRABLE, OR THOUGHT WELL OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-15-1969
SPECIAL GROUP NAME
"CHERRY-PICKER"-- NAME FOR MECHANICAL DEVICE ON THE TOP OF A TRUCK
FOR RAISING OR LOWERING A MAN. IN THE CITY OF DETROIT, THIS DEVICE
IS USED FOR TRIMMING THE HIGH BRANCHES ON TREES AND FOR PUTTING
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ON THE STREET LIGHTS ON WOODARD AVENUE,
DOWNTOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 02-25-1970
CATCH PHRASES
A JERK COULD BE REFERRED TO A BEING A "YO - YO."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: DAILY LIVING
CATCH PHRASES
EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR NEW PHARASES TO DESCRIBE HAPPENINGS WHERE
OTHER WORDS ARE JUST TOO TRITE THE FEELINGS ONE HAS THE MORNING
AFTER THE BLAST, THE MOMENT AFTER THE REST, AND OTHER RELATED
TRAUMAS. ONE CAN SAY HE WAS "BLITZED OUT OF HIS MIND," "WIPED
OUT" OR JUST PLAIN "CREAMED."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
CATCH PHRASES
THERE ARE MANY PHRASES GOING AROUND THAT TYPLIFIES A PARTICULAR
PERIOD. RIGHT NOW THE PHRASE "SOCK IT TO ME" IS POPULAR AND
CARRIES A SORT OF ...LET ME HAVE IT... MEANING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: DAILY LIVING
VOCABULARY OF SPECIAL GROUP
"LAND CRAB" NAVAL TERM FOR CIVIL SERVANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 09-19-1969
VOCABULARY OF A SPECIAL GROUP
DUDE: A WORD USED OCCASIONLY BY SERVICEMEN TO DENOTE A NON-SERVICEMEN
MAY ALSO BE USED BY ANY SPECIAL GROUP TO DENOTE MEMBER OUTSIDE THE
GROUP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 09-21-1969
TURN ME ON
THE EXPRESSION "TURN ME ON" USED TO HAVE SEXUAL OVERTONES, BUT
THROUGH YEARS OF USAGE IT HAS COME TO MEAN OTHERWISE. IF SOMETHING
"TURN ME ON." IT EXCITES ME OR INTERESTS ME SOME WAY. USED BY
ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
ENGLISH EXASPERATION
IN ENGLAND, I WOULD INDICATED THAT SOMEONE WAS EXASPERATING ME BY
SAYING THAT HE WAS "DRIVING ME AROUND THE BEND."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-28-1968
VOCABULARY
SMACK FREAK - HEROINE ADDICT
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THES IS A COMMMON NAME FOR THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE.
Where learned: TOLD AT ; Y HOUSE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-09-1970
VOCABULARY
WORKS- NAME APPLIED TO THE MEASURING SPOON, SYRING, MATCH AND HEROINE
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS MANY HEROINE ADDICTS USE THESE TERMS.
Where learned: TOLD AT ; Y HOUSE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-09-1970
BITCHIN'
THE WORD BITCHIN' IS USED FREQUENTLY IN CALIFORNIA AND HAWII TO
EXPRESS EXTREME SATIFACTION OVER SOMETHING.
Submitter comment:
E.G. "... A BITCHIN' RIDE" (ON A SURFBOARD)
"MAN, THAT'S BITCHIN'" ETC.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
HOG
A HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE IS TRADITIONALLY REFERRED TO AS A HOG.
THIS NAME DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE LOCALIZED AS I HAVE OBSEDVED IT IN
LANSING, DETROIT, HAWAII, ETC. MOSTLY USED BY THE MOTORCYCLE CROWD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR