Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Saying returned 72 results.
Expression
"go off half-cocked" means to do something on impulse
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Expression ; Half-cocked ; Heated ; Impulse ; Language ; Saying ; TEMPER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Expression
"Wet behind the ears" means inexperienced
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): EARS ; EUPHEMISM ; Expression ; Inexperienced ; Language ; Newcomer ; Rookie ; Saying ; Wet
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Expression
"To fly off the handle" means to lose your temper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ;
Keyword(s): Expression ; Fly ; Handle ; Language ; Lose ; Saying ; TEMPER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Expression
Paint the town red, or, go out on the town.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ;
Keyword(s): COLOR ; Entertainment ; Expression ; Language ; Out ; Paint ; Red ; Saying ; Term ; Town
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Saying
...three sheets to the wind. Meaning he's drunk.
ie There was a guy three sheets to the wind.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): DRUNK ; EUPHEMISM ; Language ; Saying ; Sheets ; SLANG ; Term ; Wind
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Saying
Hitch your wagon to a star
(Plan and work for the best)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: FLORIDA ; Plant City
Keyword(s): Saying ; Star ; SUCCESS ; Wagon
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Saying
Paddle your own canoe
(Mind your own business)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: FLORIDA ; Plant City
Keyword(s): Busybody ; CANOE ; Maxim ; Paddle ; PROVERB ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Saying
Give some folks enough rope and they will hang themselves.
(They talk too much)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: FLORIDA ; Plant City
Keyword(s): GOSSIP ; Hang ; Rope ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Saying
Was that in the right church but the wrong pew?
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CHURCH ; Pew ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Saying
Pennsylvania Dutch Saying:
Throw papa down the stairs his hats
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Keyword(s): DUTCH ; Hat ; Papa ; PENNSYLVANIA ; REGIONAL ; Saying ; Stairs
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Saying
Northern Maine Saying:
A direction - Go down the road a piece and then tilt toward tilly.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: MAINE ; Houlton
Keyword(s): DIRECTIONS ; Maine ; REGIONAL ; Road ; Saying ; STATE ; Tilly ; Turn
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Proverbial Saying
Curiosity killed the cat.
(usually answered with:)
Satisfaction brought it back.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Not a Proverb?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PLAYGROUND
Keyword(s): CAT ; CURIOSITY ; Killed ; PROVERB ; Resurrection ; Satisfaction ; Saying
| 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 |
Verse
Nightime Safety:
Sleep tight so the bed bugs don't bite.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Bed ; bugs ; Nighttime ; SAFETY ; Saying ; SLEEP ; Tight ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Maxim
A dream of sweets is worth a pound of sours
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
?
Keyword(s): Apothegm ; Dream ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Saying ; Sour ; Sweet ; VALUE ; VERSE ; Worth
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
zu woll sein
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Translation?
Where learned: GERMANY
Keyword(s): DRINK ; GERMAN ; Saying ; TOAST ; Well Wishes
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Saying
If you are serarated from the person you are walking with by a pole say "bread and butter."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): BREAD ; Butter ; Pole ; Saying ; SUPERSTITION
| 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 |
Saying
Telephone Answer:
"Riedy's Morgue, you kill 'em, we chill 'em!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Verse?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Answer ; Chill ; GREETING ; Kill ; Morgue ; RHYME ; Saying ; TELEPHONE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |