Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for V300 returned 1774 results.
Drunk man talk what he tink when he sober.
Submitter comment: A drunk person says what he's thinking when he's sober.
Where learned: VIRGIN ISLANDS ; Saint Thomas
Keyword(s): tink = think
James Callow Keyword(s): INHIBITIONS ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-00-1991
Yo have mo front 'n Katie Ben.
Submitter comment:
You have more "gumption" than Katie Ben. The story goes back
to the 1940's in Saint Thomas when there was a problem with
the congregation of a Methodist church. Everyone was afraid
to talk about it, including the minister, even though all knew
a problem existed. Katie Ben, a child, got up in church and
spoke out or took the "front." The informant has no idea what
the problem was at the time but that is where this saying came
from.
Where learned: VIRGIN ISLANDS ; Saint Thomas
Keyword(s): 'n = than ; mo = more ; Yo = you
James Callow Keyword(s): Effrontery Boldness Audacity ; Personal name in proverb
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
Happy is she who married the son of a dead mother.
Submitter comment:
Her mother-in-law used to tell her that whenever
she could tell she was annoying her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE
Keyword(s): mother-in-law, nag
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001940S
Money makes everything legitimate, even bastards.
Submitter comment:
This Jewish proverb is shared among Jews as a
humorous excuse as to why they do "anything" for money.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; DelRay Beach
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001960S
My grandmother was very emphatic about eating good foods. Even
though she was very poor she always bought the best quality of
food that she could afford in order to keep her family healthy.
One of her sayings was :" What you don't pay to the butcher and
baker you pay to the doctor."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Method of Curing PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
AN OLD SAYING: IF YOU SPEND MOST YOUR TIME COMPLAINING YOU
MIGHT AS WELL SHUT UP, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY NO ONE CARES.
Where learned: MISSOURI
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE--NEGATIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
AN OLD SAYING: TAKE A GUN AND SHOOT IT IN THE AIR. IF NONE OF
THE BULLETS COME DOWN AND KILL YOU, YOU ARE A LUCKY PERSON. IF
ONE DOES KILL YOU, YOU ARE A STUPID PERSON FOR TRYING.
Where learned: SOUTH DAKOTA
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Good luck PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
Enjoy life - You're dead a hell of a lot longer that you're
alive.
Submitter comment: This was my father's philosophy of life.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Mortality
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
I've been told by my mother that hope, without faith, is like
beefsteak without gravy.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Use what you got, to get what you want.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CHIASMUS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-30-1968
When I visited South Carolina in 1989 to golf all of the
locals would say,"It never rains on the golf course." They would
say this when it looked like rain as a superstition in hopes that
everyone could still play golf.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; Myrtle Beach
Unknown
Tell the truth, shame the devil.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
Unknown
Jumping the broom.
Submitter comment:
Same meaning as getting married. This term is used in the
South.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
Unknown
Some people don't believe fat meat is greasy.
Submitter comment:
This means that you are making a true statement but someone
is doubting you.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Retort to skeptic
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Metaphor
One saying that I learned as a child while walking to school
was "Don't Step on a Crack or You'll Break Your Mama's Back."
(Referring to cracks in the sidewalk.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Live so that you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot
to the town gossip.
Submitter comment:
My mother told me this a long time ago and I have passed it
down to my children. I only hope they are living by this
saying.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never
hurt me.
Submitter comment:
I always said this as a child, but it was never true. Names
did hurt my feelings and even made me cry.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
IF YOU LAUGH BEFORE BREAKFAST YOU WILL CRY BEFORE SUPPER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; WILLIAMSON COUNTY
| Subject headings: | Observation PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001928 CA.
IF YOU SING BEFORE BREAKFAST, YOU WILL CRY BEFORE SUPPER
Where learned: KENTUCKY, ASSUMED ; LOUISVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): INEVITABILITY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU LAUGH BEFORE BREAKFAST, YOU'LL CRY BEFORE DINNER
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 08-02-1968