Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN SOMEONE SAYS, "HEY" OR "HEY YOU", ANSWER, "STRAW'S CHEAPER,
GRASS IS FREE; IF YOU LIVE ON A FARM YOU GET ALL THREE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-06-1971
WHAT DO YOU THINK-MY HEAD'S A YOYO?
Submitter comment:
USED WHEN A PERSON FEELS THAT SOMEONE ELSE THINKS HE IS
COMPLETELY STUPID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; WEST QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?
Submitter comment: USED WHEN SOMEONE IS TOO QUIET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; WEST QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
DON'T STICK YOUR ELBOW OUT TOO FAR, IT MIGHT COME HOME IN
ANOTHER CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
YOU FELL OFF AN OAK TREE.
Submitter comment: MEANING DID YOU FALL OFF YOUR ROCKER?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
RIGHT ON LIKE A BULLET THROUGH THE FENCE.
Submitter comment: MEANS NOT RIGHT ON
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
MAY A DUCK KICK YOU YET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
THERE AIN'T THAT MUCH WALKING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS USED IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, FREQUENTLY
BETWEEN 1969 AND 1971 AS A REPLY TO A QUESTION OR COMMAND. IF
AN INDIVIDUAL WAS ASKED OR TOLD TO DO SOMETHING WHICH HE FELT
TO BE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK OR, AT THE TIME, WAS TOO LAZY TO DO,
THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD REPLY THE ABOVE. OTHER TERMS WERE
SOMETIMES SUBSTITUTED FOR WALKING, SUCH AS: THINKING, DOING.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
WHEN A PERSON APPROACHES YOU AND SAYS "HI", YOU ANSWER THEM
BY SAYING "I WISH I WERE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-16-1971
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING WITH WHICH YOU DON'T AGREE, THEN
A COMMON RESPONSE IS FOR THE HEARER TO SAY "BULLSHIT..." AND
THEN AFTER A PAUSE ADD "MAKES THE GRASS GROW GREEN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-21-1971
ON ENTERING A ROOM OR HOUSE THE PERSON ENTERING SAYS "HI".
THE PERSON SITTING THERE RESOPNDS, "I WISH I WAS."
Submitter comment:
THE REFERENCE IS GENERALLY MAKE IN TERMS OF INTOXICATION OF
ANY FORM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-24-1971
"NICE PLAY SHAKESPEARE; WHEN'S YOUR NEXT ACT?"
Submitter comment:
THIS PHRASE IS USED WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING COMPLETELY OUT
OF PLACE OR HAS A MINOR ACCIDENT; LIKE SPILLING MILK, ETC.
MY BROTHER USED THIS LINE ALOT, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND VERY
CLUMSY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-12-1971
I HAVE TO BE IN WHEN THE STREET LIGHTS GO ON.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS AS A JOKING MOCK OF PARENTAL RULES
ON WHEN TO BE IN AT NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
AS BAD AS YOU ARE, WE'D HATE TO LOSE YOU.
Submitter comment:
ALWAYS SAID WHEN SOMEONE HAD FORGOTTEN TO LOCK THEIR DOOR IN
THE CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON.
Submitter comment: SAID WHEN A PERSON IS TRYING TO HURRY YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? DO YOU HAVE ANTS IN YOUR PANTS?
Submitter comment:
SAID TO SOMEONE WHO IS OVER ANXIOUS TO DO SOMETHING OR GO
SOMEWHERE AND IS BEGINNING TO ANNOY YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
DOES WATER FALL OVER A DAM?
Submitter comment: MEANS THE AFFIRMATIVE TO A QUESTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
FORMULA SPEECH
ABOUT TWO IN A HILL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATES THAT WHEN PLANTING CORN, ONE PLACES THREE GRAINS IN
A "HILL", IN HOPES THAT AT LEAST ONE WILL GROW. SO WHEN A FARMER IS
ASKED HOW HE IS, HE ANSWERS "ABOUT TWO IN A HILL", INFERRING
THAT HE IS PRETTY GOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-24-1971
RETORT: TIME
QUESTION: WHAT TIME IS IT?
REPLY: (LOOK AT WRIST PRETENDING TO READ TIME OFF YOUR WRIST):
TWO HAIRS PAST THE SECOND FRECKLE, EASTERN ELBOW TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): TIME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
LOOKING IN CORNERS
WHEN SOME PERSON YOU KNOW IS CONSTANTLY SNOOPING AROUND YOU CAN SAY
"ONLY MONKEYS LOOK IN CORNERS."
WHEN YOU WRITE A LETTER OR A NOTE YOU CAN WRITE "ONLY MONKEYS LOOK
IN CORNERS."
Submitter comment:
THESE TWO GO TOGETHER BECAUSE OFTEN PEOPLE LOOK FOR MISTAKES IN
LETTERS THEY RECEIVE AND BY PUTTING THE PHRASE IN ONE OF THE CORNERS
YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE PERSON SHOULD ENJOY THE LETTER AND NOT LOOK
FOR MISTAKES. THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE FOR THE INFORMANT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ANIMAL COMPARISON
James Callow Keyword(s): PARA-RIME: BUY BE ; TREATING TO DRINKS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 01-24-1971