Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Crack returned 126 results.
Retort
Oh, you have more troubles (or anything could be substituted for troubles...excuses, pains, etc.) than Carter has Little Liver Pills.
Submitter comment:
This informant would use this quip when belittling the complaints of her children.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
God paid you back...
Submitter comment:
If, when you were teasing her, and you would hurt yourself, the informant would say this.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Callow has written some clarifying remarks on the card for grammatical purposes. example: Teasing Who? The Informant?
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Holy Toledo!
Submitter comment:
A short statement said when amazed.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S586] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Toledo ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Two retorts to the "Age Before Beauty" line are:
"Only in the dictionary" or,
"But Beauty was a HORSE."
Submitter comment:
These are lines frequently used in grade school.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The word Smart is crossed out from the title.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AGE ; BEAUTY ; COMEBACK ; Dictionary ; HORSE ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Off the Cob.
Submitter comment:
A remark made after someone has expressed an inept idea or an idea lacking in social sophistication.
Informant heard this in Detroit, Michigan.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Cob ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Question: How are you?
Retort: Still Alive.
Submitter comment:
I've heard it used around UofD.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Alive ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Response ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"Doubting Thomas"
When someone tells you something which is hard to believe, a common reply is:
"I'm from Missouri - seeing is believing."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C870.570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Missouri ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Political Speech:
"I'm from Missouri; You've got to show me."
...Missouri Congressman.
Submitter comment:
Denotes - One not easily Deceived.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S554] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
The question [Not a retort??] is written across the top of the card.
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; HUMOR ; Missouri ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
To answer a "smart" question or statement:
At least I was born, not hatched.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Born ; COMEBACK ; Egg ; Hatched ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Constantinople:
Constantinople is a very long word, and I bet you can't spell it.
Retort: I. T.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard it in 3rd or 4th grade.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [W400] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RICHMOND
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Constantinople ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Spell ; SPELLING ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
When someone called me a name when I was younger, I used to answer them with: "Don't call me your middle name."
Submitter comment:
This is something all the kids (on my block) used to say.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; NAME ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Daily Life Custom:
When a person sneezes, it is customary to say "Gesundheit!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F530] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; COMEBACK ; RETORT ; SNEEZE ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
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
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"A man running by for his life would never notice it."
Submitter comment:
Granny Clisdale used to admonish someone worrying over inicental details with this retort.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DEATH ; incidental ; INSULT ; LIFE ; Notice ; RETORT ; RUNNING ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Q: So what?
Retort: Buttons on eggs, zippers on bananas.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Bananas ; BUTTONS ; COMEBACK ; Eggs ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Sew ; SEWING ; Wisecrack ; Zippers
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You make a better door than you do a window.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[When said? When someone gets in the way?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Door ; INSULT ; Obstruction ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; View ; Window ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
If y ou aren't sure what is going on, or you don't know the answer to a question, a common answer is "I'm out to lunch!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The original title [Formula] has been crossed out. Replaced with current Title.
Keyword(s): AWAY ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Lunch ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Question: How old are you?
Retort: Old enough to know better.
OR
That's for me to know and you to find out.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AGE ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |