Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for RETORT returned 156 results.
Retort
Age before beauty.
Beauty was a horse.
Submitter comment:
Heard during college days
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; Black ; COMEBACK ; HORSE ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
What do you wnat? Eggs in your beer?
Submitter comment:
I heard this repeatedly when playing baseball in childhood days.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Something besides this must come first?
Usually in Singular?
Keyword(s): BEER ; COMEBACK ; Eggs ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Smart Aleck Saying:
Deaf in one ear, and can't hear in the other.
Data entry tech comment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_folklorists
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DEAF ; Ear ; Hearing ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
A) "You dance very well."
B) "I wish I could say the same about you."
A) "Oh, you could, if you were as big a fibber as I am!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Retort? Double A! A gives the punch line, not B.
The original Title [Smart Aleck Saying] has been crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DANCE ; Fibber ; INSULT ; Liar ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Language
He thinks he's bright just because his mother calls him sonny.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The title word PROSE is crossed out and replaced with the word RETORT
Original BN [Z210] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Written across top of card:
A retort to what? What IS the A? [Given as a retort]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR ; INSULT ; Language ; RETORT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Entry filtered.
Retort
When someone tells you his accomplishments in some particular event, a common retort is to say "What do you want me to do, pin a rose on your nose?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Grammatical corrections.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Accomplishment ; COMEBACK ; NOSE ; Prize ; RETORT ; Rose ; Win
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
Are you making food for thrashers?
Submitter comment:
This question is usually directed toward the woman of the house who is preparing a large dinner.
Informant's Comment: An Indian custom at thrashing-time is for all the farmers to meet at one farm to help thrash the wheat. The women prepare the noon meal for the thrashers. In the same sense "making food for thrashers" implies a large amount or an overabundance.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V400] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; FARMING ; FOOD ; RETORT ; Thrashers ; Wheat
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Lebanese expression "Ya Adrah" which translated means "Mother of God, Help"
Submitter comment:
Is often (frequently) used when someone slips or barely misses hurting themselves.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Grammatical corrections.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; ETHNIC ; God ; Help ; Lebanese ; MOTHER ; RETORT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Old saying for Italians when they are astonished is "Mama Mia."
It means "My Mother."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S550] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; ETHNIC ; Italian ; RETORT ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
If someone is giving you a made up excuse and they are doing a poor job of pulling the wool over your eyes then merely say:
Tell it to Murphy, McCarthy already heard it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; EXCUSE ; McCarthy ; Murphy ; RETORT ; Wool
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Get a Horse!
-Said to anyone driving too slow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; HORSE ; RETORT ; SPEED ; Tease
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Question - Who was your servant last year?
Answer - No one...that's why I have you!
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The words [Smart Aleck Saying] are crossed out from the top of the card.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; RETORT ; Servant ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"Please help me out..."
"Sure, Which way did you come in?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The words [Smart Aleck Saying] are crossed out on the top of the submission card.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn."
Submitter comment:
We would say this to someone who had poor aim.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
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 |