Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Back returned 194 results.
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 |
Autograph Rhyme
Album Rhyme:
Roses are Red
Violets are Black
You'd look better
With a knife in your back
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AUTOGRAPH ; Back ; Black ; COLOR ; ENEMY ; FLOWERS ; KNIFE ; poem ; Red ; RHYME ; Roses ; Signature ; VERSE ; VERSE ; Violets
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Environmental Factor
Background and Environmental Factors:
Bottle Pinnacle, Wyoming - rare name - named for its shape.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; American Place Names
Keyword(s): Background ; Bottle ; ENVIRONMENT ; ETYMOLOGY ; Nickname ; Pinnacle ; REGIONAL ; SHAPE ; Topographical ; Wyoming
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Environmental Factor
Background and Environmental Factors:
Mitten Mountain, Montana - rare name - named because of a fire scar causing the shape of a mitten.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; American Place Names
Keyword(s): Background ; Environmental ; ETYMOLOGY ; FIRE ; Mitten ; Montana ; MOUNTAIN ; Nickname ; Scar ; SHAPE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields and
Until we meet again...
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Leave Taking?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Back ; BLESSING ; Culture ; ETHNIC ; Field ; God ; Irish ; Rain ; Road ; TRAVEL ; Wind
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Next day after never when two Sundays come together.
Submitter comment:
I heard it from my father.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Should be under Rotten Verse?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Day ; Language ; Never ; Never ; Next ; RETORT ; RHYME ; SLANG ; Sundays
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
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 |
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 |
IF YOU STEP OVER SOMEONE'S OUT STRETCHED LEGS, HE WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU STEP OVER THEM BACKWARDS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 09-01-11
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GALLATIN
Keyword(s): Backwards ; BAD LUCK ; BODY ; LEGS ; Limb ; LUCK ; Step
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 08-20-1973
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
SUPERSTITION
THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO SWEEP YOUR FLOOR. YOU ARE SUPPOSED
TO SWEEP TOWARD THE BACK DOOR AND NOT THE FRONT DOOR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): ; Back ; DIRECTION ; Domesticity ; Door ; Dust ; Front ; HOUSECLEANING ; SUPERSTITION ; Sweep
James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; OPPOSITES ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Daily Life |
Date learned: 11-10-1970
DOOR
IF SOMEONE ENTERS YOUR FRONT DOOR, IT IS BAD LUCK FOR THEM
TO LEAVE OUT OF THE BACK DOOR.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; Front ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-00-1972