Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for INSULT returned 164 results.
AUTOGRAPH BOOK MATERIAL
THOUGH YOUR TASKS ARE MANY
AND YOUR REWARDS ARE FEW
REMEMBER THAT THE MIGHTY OAK
WAS ONCE A NUT LIKE YOU}
Submitter comment: ENTRY DATED MARCH 8, 1962
Where learned: AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR ; PUN: ON NUT ; QUATRAIN ; SIMILE: COMPARISON TO A NUT. ; SURPRISE ENDING
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; INSULT ; METER: ; SLANG--NUT ; UNREWARDED EFFORT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 03-08-1962
VERSE
ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLACK
YOU WOULD LOOK BETTER
WITH A KNIFE IN YOUR BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; FLOWERS ; HOSTILITY ; INDIRECTION ; INSULT ; KNIVES ; METER: ANAPESTS ; METER: IAMBS ; METER: TROCHEES ; QUATRAIN ; RESENTMENT ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: 11-22-1968
AUTOGRAPH
ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
SUGAR IS SWEET
AND SO ARE YOU. MM
BUT WHEN ROSES ARE WILTED
AND VIOLETS ARE DEAD
SUGAR IS LUMPY
AND SO IS YOUR HEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; COMPLIMENT ; CONTRAST ; FLOWERS ; HUMOR ; INSULT ; METER: IAMBS ; METER: TROCHEES ; QUATRAINS ; SARCASM ; STUPIDITY ; SURPRISE ENDING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
YOU WERE SO UGLY WHEN YOU WERE BORN, THE DOCTOR SLAPPED
YOUR MOTHER.
Submitter comment: "CAP"
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-30-1984
WHEN THEY WERE HANDING OUT BRAINS, YOU CAME TOO LATE TO
GET YOURS.
Submitter comment: "CAP"
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-30-1984
WHENEVER YOU WANT A GOOD LAUGH, JUST LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
Submitter comment: "CAP"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-30-1984
THIS VERSE WAS TAKEN FROM MY MOTHER'S GRADE SCHOOL AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
ROSES ARE RED
THEIR STEMS ARE GREEN
YOU'VE GOT A FIGURE
LIKE A B-17.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
I HAD A DREAM THAT I DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN AND YOU
WERE THERE AND WE BOTH MET UP WITH ST. PAUL. ST. PAUL TOOK
US THROUGH THESE GATES WHERE YOU WERE TO MEET YOUR MATE FOR
ETERNITY. WHILE WE WERE WALKING ALONG YOU MET ONE
OF YOUR FRIENDS AND THE FRIEND WAS MATED WITH A REALLY UGLY,
GROSS-LOOKING MONSTER. YOU SAID, "WHY IS MY FRIEND
MATED WITH SUCH AN UGLY CHARACTER?" ST. PAUL SAID, "YOUR
FRIEND LED A BAD LIFE ON EARTH AND WHEN PEOPLE LEAD BAD
LIVES ON EARTH THEY ARE TEAMED UP WITH UGLY CREATURES."
WE KEPT WALKING ALONG AND YOU SAW ANOTHER FRIEND
WHO WAS ALSO TEAMED UP WITH ANOTHER UGLY GODZILLA. "I
SUPPOSE HE LED A BAD LIFE ON EARTH ALSO!" YOU
SAID. WE KEPT WALKING AND WE FINALLY MET
MS AMERICA 1987 AND YOU WERE MATED WITH HER.
YOU SAID, "WHY DID MY FRIENDS GET THOSE UGLY MONSTERS
AND I'M MATED WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN?" ST. PAUL SAID,
"YOU SEE, MS AMERICA LED A VERY BAD LIFE ON EARTH AND
YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF MATE YOU GET UP HERE WHEN THAT HAPPENS."
Submitter comment:
ENTRY WAS TOLD TO ME AS A DREAM BUT IT WAS REALLY A JOKE -
USING MY NAME INSTEAD OF YOURS.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 12-00-1983
YOU ARE SO OLD THAT THERE ARE RECORDS OF YOU PLAYING
BALL WITH GOD WHEN HE WAS A BOY.
Submitter comment: MADE UP JOKE TO PLAY THE DOZENS WITH MY SISTER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
THE OLD SHACK GAME.
ON THE WAY TO OUR FAMILY REUNIONS IN TEXAS AND
SOUTH CAROLINA MY SISTER WOULD SEE THE UGLIEST
SHACK AND SAY THAT I LIVED IN THAT SHACK. EVENTUALLY
I WOULD SEE AN UGLY SHACK AND SAY SHE LIVED IN IT.
THE GAME WOULD GO BACK AND FORTH LIKE THAT.
Where learned: ON THE WAY TO TEXAS IN A CAR
James Callow Keyword(s): TRADING INSULTS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001980S
THE FACE
HIS FACE LOOKS LIKE THE SOUTH END (SIDE) OF A HORSE GOING NORTH.
Submitter comment:
YOU CAN USE THIS RETORT ANYTIME SOMEONE IS BRAGGING OR PUTTING
SOMEONE ELSE DOWN AND YOU WANT HIM TO KNOW HE HAS NOTHING TO TALK
ABOUT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL COMPARISON ; EUPHEMISM FOR RUMP OF HORSE ; INSULT UGLINESS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-25-1971
Entry filtered.
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 |
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 |