Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Rack returned 142 results.
Retort
You must be Bob Hope's brother, No Hope.
Submitter comment:
This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
(Bob Hope [1903-2003] was a famous celebrity and humanitarian.)
James Callow comment:
Odd First Name (Regarding No Hope).
Keyword(s): CELEBRITY ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Pop Culture ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You must be Lana Turner's sister, Stomach Turner.
Submitter comment:
This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Lana Turner [1921-1995] was a famous actress.
James Callow comment:
Taunt in Prose
Keyword(s): CELEBRITY ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
The only time you open your mouth is to change feet.
Submitter comment:
This is a sarcastic retort ised when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Taunt in Prose
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; FEET ; Foot ; INSULT ; Mouth ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Do you have a shikkonwheye?
What's a shikkonwheye?
Oh, about two or three pounds.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Catch. Prank.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; HUMOR ; INSULT ; JOKE ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"Bun it"
Submitter comment:
Whenever she wasnted you to stop something, or to quit bothering her she would say this.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Speech (expressions)
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
James Callow Keyword(s): SPEECH
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"Can It"
Submitter comment:
Lately, when a person wants someone to stop something, to shut up, etc., this is the thing to say.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): CAN ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Abu mebe karka komra
Translated: Oh! If only a duck would kick you!
Submitter comment:
Said in a jesting manner; a retaliation.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; ETHNIC ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; UKRAINIAN ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Step on a crack. Break your mother's back.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Back ; Crack ; Maxim ; MOTHER ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Entertainment: Game
Engine, engine, number 9
Going down Chicago's line,
If the train should jump the track,
Would you want your money back?
yes, no, maybe.....(repeat until a miss)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CHICAGO ; Engine ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Jump ; Jump Rope ; Line ; MONEY ; Nine ; NUMBER ; RHYME ; Track
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Food: Recipe
Cracklin-Bread:
Take hog skins and render in a hot oven. Pour off the grease. Put through a grinder and season cornbread with it. Bake in hot oven.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Bake ; BREAD ; COOK ; Cornbread ; Cracklin ; Fat ; FOOD ; Grease ; Hog ; Pig ; RECIPE ; SKIN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal |
Saying
Step on a crack you'll break your mother's back
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Back ; Crack ; Line ; MOTHER ; Saying ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
A GIRL MUST LIFT HER FEET WHEN CROSSING A RAILROAD
TRACK OR SHE'LL LOSE HER LOVER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): Crossing ; FEET ; OMEN ; RAILROAD ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK THE DEVIL'S DISHES.
VARIATION: STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK YOUR
MOTHER'S BACK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): Back ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; DEVIL ; Dishes ; GAME ; RHYME ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
"GET THOSE FEET UP!"
WHEN RIDING IN A CAR ONE MUST LIFT HIS FEET WHILE GOING
OVER RAILROAD TRACKS OR HE WILL BE KILLED IN SOME SORT
OF TRAIN ACCIDENT THE NEXT DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Car ; DEATH ; FEET ; Railroad Tracks ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
RACKED UP---MEANS ASLEEP OR BEHAVING AS SUCH (NEGATIVE
CONNOTATION).
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; Nickname ; Rack ; SLANG ; SLEEP
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 06-00-1971
LOSS OF A SWEETHEART
IF YOU ARE RIDING OVER TRACKS, (WHETHER THEY ARE TRAIN TRACKS
OR STREETCAR TRACKS) RAISE YOUR FEET OFF THE GROUND. IF YOU
DO NOT, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PRESENT SWEETHEART.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Sweetheart ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
CAR BELIEF
IF A GIRL IS RIDING IN A CAR AND IT CROSSES OVER RAILROAD
TRACKS, SHE MUST LIFT UP HER FEET OR SHE WILL NOT GET MARRIED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANTS ATTITUDE WAS QUITE SKEPTICAL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FEET ; OMEN ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; DISBELIEF ; POSITION
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RAILROAD CROSSING
WHENEVER DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS EVERYONE IN THE CAR
SHOULD LIFT THEIR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, DRIVER INCLUDED, AND
TOUCH THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH THEIR HANDS. THIS IS TO INSURE THE
OCCUPANTS OF A LONG LIFE AND TO WARD OFF THE COMING OF OLD AGE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT DOES THIS OFTEN WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Car ; FEET ; Roof ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-20-1971
PREDICTION
WHILE GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR FEET
OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOY OR GIRL FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; Girlfriend ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
Date learned: 09-00-1969
WHEN YOU ARE RIDING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR, YOU
SHOULD LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR SO YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR
NEXT GIRL FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; Car ; Girlfriend ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: |
Date learned: 09-25-1968