Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for RETORT returned 156 results.
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
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Do you think money grows on trees?
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Class?
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Language ; MONEY ; RETORT ; SLANG ; Tree
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
At dinner time, a parental question/statement as a result of crude behavior is "were you raised in a barn?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V400, V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Barn ; Crude ; Language ; MANNERS ; Raised ; RETORT ; Rude ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Wise Guy?
What are you? A wise guy or a truck driver?
(Question and answer given to someone who has made a wise remark.)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [W400] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Class?
What's the answer?
Keyword(s): Answer ; Language ; QUESTION ; Remark ; RETORT ; SLANG ; Truck Driver ; Wise Guy
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Following comment is made to someone who has insulted you:
"I resemble that remark."
The slip of the tongue is intentional.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Sense?
Classification?
The words Tongue Twister have been crossed out.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Syracuse University ; Syracuse
Keyword(s): INSULT ; Language ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; Resemble ; Resent ; RETORT ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Tongue Twister
Following comment is made to someone who has insulted you. The slip of the tongue is intentional:
You're casting asparagus on my reputation.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Not really a tongue twister, is it?
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Syracuse University ; Syracuse
Keyword(s): INSULT ; Language ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; Reply ; REPUTATION ; RETORT ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Is that a water proof shirt you have on?
No, Why?
That's a pisser of a tie you've got on.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Taste?
Keyword(s): INSULT ; Language ; Pisser ; RETORT ; Shirt ; SLANG ; Tease ; Tie ; Waterproof
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
In answer to Polish greeting of "jak tam wiszi," (how's it hanging?) one might say "STOI!"
It literally means standing, but may be translated as "up tight and out of sight" or "everything is ok."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Reply to Greeting. Greeting itself is already on another card. Greeting?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Casual ; CONVERSATION ; POLISH ; RETORT ; SLANG
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Saying
When someone says "I thought..." you say "You know what Mr. Thought did."
They probably will want to know what he did so you tell him: "He thought a razor blade was toilet paper and he cut his behind."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V501] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Taste??
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Answer ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; QUESTION ; razor ; RETORT ; Saying ; Think ; Thought ; Toilet Paper
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
A Teacher's Remarks:
If I want any crap outta you I'll squeeze your head.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Retort? S570? Taste?
Original Bn [S520] crossed out. replaced with current classification.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Crap ; EUPHEMISM ; HEAD ; Remark ; RETORT ; Saying ; SLANG ; TEACHER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Taunt
Poet;
When somebody says something that rhymes, you say to them:
"You're a poet and don't know it, but your feet show it, because they are Longfellows."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): LONGFELLOW ; POET ; RETORT ; RHYME ; SLANG ; TAUNT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Verse?
Keyword(s): Language ; NAMES ; RETORT ; RHYME ; Sticks ; STONES ; TAUNT ; Tease ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
If a person is called a big mouth by another big mouth he says "the donkey said that the rooster had a big head."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Annoying ; Big ; DONKEY ; HEAD ; Hypocrite ; INSULT ; Loud ; Mouth ; RETORT ; Rooster ; Saying
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Retort
You're about as funny as a pay toilet in a dairy ward.
Submitter comment:
From his friend, Brian Battersby.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Diary Ward?
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Diary ; Funny ; INSULT ; METAPHOR ; RETORT ; SIMILE ; SLANG ; Toilet ; Unfunny ; Ward
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Speech - Formula
When someone asks you "how's everything?" you answer : fine as frog's hair, scarce as hen's teeth.
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; Ashland City
Keyword(s): FROG ; Hen ; METAPHOR ; RETORT ; Saying ; SIMILE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Entry filtered.