The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

NEVER CHEW YOUR CABBAGE TWICE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): "LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE." ; ADVICE: NEGATIVE

Date learned: 08-09-1964

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A CURE

IN POLAND, IN THE COUNTRY IT'S PRACTICED TO PUT CLAY ON BUMPS
ON THE HEAD, TO MAKE THE SWELLING GO DOWN.

Submitter comment: ANNA STANISZKIS LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE SPENT
VACATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): POLISH BELIEFS ; REDUCTION OF SWELLING

Date learned: 11-30-1967

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What did the monkey say when it backed into the
fan? "It won't be long now."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LENNON

James Callow Keyword(s): Wellerism posed as a riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1981

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Toast

May you be in Heaven a half an hour before the Devil knows your dead.

Submitter comment:

Well Wish

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Called a Toast by others.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEATH ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TIME ; TOAST ; Well Wish

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Toast

Here's to all that wish me well, All the rest can go to Hell!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; HELL ; Social ; TOAST ; Well

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Toast

We drink to those who wish us well, and all the rest can go to Hell!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; HELL ; Social ; TOAST ; Well

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Toast

Here's to all that wish me well. All the rest can go to the Devil.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): DEVIL ; DRINKING ; HELL ; Social ; TOAST ; Well

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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

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

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Proverb

Wellerism:

"I see" said the blind man, as he picked up the hammer and saw.

Submitter comment:

Heard frequently in New Brighton, MInn.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MINNESOTA

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BLIND ; Hammer ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Saw ; See ; Sight ; TOOLS ; VERSE ; Wellerism

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Proverb

Wellerism:

"I see" said the blind man, as he took up his hammer and saw.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: OHIO

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BLIND ; Hammer ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Saw ; See ; Sight ; TOOLS ; VERSE ; Wellerism

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Proverb

Wellerism:

"I see" said the blind man to his deaf wife.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BLIND ; DEAF ; HUSBAND ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Saw ; See ; Sight ; VERSE ; Wellerism ; Wife

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Proverb

I see said the blind man and he picked up his hammer and saw.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [S300] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.

Where learned: WORK

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BLIND ; Hammer ; METAPHOR ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Saw ; See ; Sight ; VERSE ; Wellerism

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Proverb

"I see" said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BLIND ; Hammer ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Saw ; See ; Sight ; VERSE ; Wellerism

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Proverb

All's well that ends well.

Submitter comment:

Informant heard this in Norwalk, OH.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Well

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Proverb

A job worth doing is worth doing well.

Submitter comment:

I heard this in Ferndale, MI.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; JOB ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Skill ; VERSE ; Well

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Proverb

Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Bn [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania

Keyword(s): Ability ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Well ; WORK

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Proverb

If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Ability ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Well ; WORK ; Worth

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Proverb

You never miss the water till the well runs dry.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Highland

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; WATER ; Well

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Retort

A traditional reply to the word "hey" is "hay is for horses"

When a person, in conversation, pauses and says "well," then traditional answer is "wells are for water."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V400, V300, S260] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Hay ; Hey ; HORSES ; Language ; RETORT ; SLANG ; WATER ; Well

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Salutation

Yours till the ocean wears rubber pants to keep its bottom dry.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Leave-Talking?

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): Album ; AUTOGRAPH ; Devotion ; Farewell ; Ocean ; Pants ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; Rubber ; Salutation ; Signature ; WORDPLAY

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