Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NUMBER returned 208 results.
TWO, THREE, AND FOUR LEGS RIDDLE
Q: TWO LEGS SAT UPON THREE LEGS,/ WITH ONE LEG IN HIS LAP;/ IN COMES
FOUR LEGS,/ AND RUNS AWAY WITH ONE LEG./ UP JUMPS TWO LEGS,/ CATCHES
UP THREE LEGS,/ THROWS IT AFTER FOUR LEGS,/ AND MAKES HIM BRING BACK
ONE LEG.
A: TWO LEGS, A BOY; THREE LEGS, A STOOL; ONE LEG, A ROAST LEG OF
LAMB; FOUR LEGS, A DOG.
Submitter comment:
I FOUND THIS IN AN OLD MOTHER GOOSE COLORING BOOK WHICH WAS IN THE
ATTIC. THE COVER AND SOME PAGES WERE MISSING. IT IS AT LEAST TEN
YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
ELIZABETH RIDDLE
Q: ELIZABETH, ELSPETH, BETSY AND BESS,/ THEY ALL WENT TOGETHER TO
SEE A BIRD'S NEST./ THEY FOUND A BIRD'S NEST WITH FIVE EGGS IN,/
THEY ALL TOOK ONE AND LEFT FOUR IN.
A: ELIZABETH, ELSPETH, BETSY AND BESS ARE ALL THE SAME GIRL.
Data entry tech comment: FUNCTION: TO TEACH NICKNAMES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
ACE IN THE HOLE
Data entry tech comment: GAMBLING TERM APPLIED TO A HIDDEN ADVANTAGE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): CARD PLAYING: POKER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
PHRASES OF A MATH TEACHER
ADDING X<4 TO THE EQUATION REALLY DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; LETTER
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): LOGIC
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
ALMOST COUNTS ONLY IN HORSESHOES AND HAND-GRENADES.
Submitter comment: FINE FELLOW
Where learned: FLORIDA ; PANAMA CITY
James Callow Keyword(s): CAN ; I SUPPOSE THE MEANING OF THIS IS THAT A HAND GRENADE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
PROVERB
ANYBODY CAN BE FOOLED ONCE, BUT ONLY A FOOL CAN BE FOOLED TWICE.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; OBSERVATION ; REPETITION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-09-1969
MORAL PROVERB
AS DELICIOUS AS NINE HONEYS.
PRIEZ ADSIAI (LITHUANIAN)
Submitter comment:
ONE HONEY IS DELICIOUS BY ITSELF BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE NINE OF THEM?
TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN.
Data entry tech comment: CATHERINE, YOU'RE A HONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD ; INSECT ; NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
PROVERB
BELIEVE HALF OF WHAT YOU READ AND NONE OF WHAT YOU ARE TOLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number P686.00 BELIEF -- Number P686.05 PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RUSSIAN PROVERB
CUPID IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SHOOT ARROWS THROUGH TWO HEARTS
AT THE SAME TIME.
Where learned: RUSSIA
Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; SUPERNATURAL
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Gods PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
PROVERB
DEATHS COME IN THREES; DEPARTURES FROM THE JESUIT ORDER COME IN
THREES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
A PROVERB
DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ANTICIPATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
PROVERB
DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY'RE HATCHED.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ANTICIPATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-10-1967
PAR FOR THE COURSE
BE YOURSELF...IF YOU CANT DO ANY BETTER.
Where learned: LETTER
James Callow Keyword(s): OF ; PAR IS A GOLF TERM MEANING "AVERAGE" OR USUAL NUMBER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-23-1969
PROVERB
A BIRD IN YOUR HAND IS BETTER THAN TEN ON A TREE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A PROVERB FROM PALESTINE, NOT THE USE OF TEN ON A TREE
COMPARED WITH THE AMERICAN PROVERB SAYING TWO ON A TREE. (SIC)
Data entry tech comment:
TWO IN THE BUSH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): BIRD
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; NUMBERS ; OBSERVATION ; PRIORITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 First / Once / One / Newness PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-06-1970
PROVERB
A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH THOUSANDS IN THE AIR. (TRANSLATION)
ASFUR JIDEC AHIAR MIN ELF FLAIRU. (MALTESE)
Data entry tech comment: VARIANT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; OBSERVATION ; PRIORITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Sixths / Six PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
PROVERB
A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRD
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; HYPOCRISY ; NUMBERS ; OBSERVATION ; PRIORITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 08-09-1964
BUBBLES ON THE WATER MEANS RAIN FOR THREE DAYS.
Submitter comment: HIS FATHER TOLD THIS TO HIM.
James Callow comment: NOT A PROVERB
Where learned: YPSILANTI
Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; SUPERSTITION ; WEATHER PROVERB
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies PROVERB -- Weather Proverb |
Date learned: 10-14-1967
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
BUSIER THAN A ONE ARMED PAPER HANGER WITH THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH.
Where learned: DEARBORN
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): FRUSTRATION
Date learned: 04-06-1971
PROVERB
BUSIER THAN A ONE LEGGED MAN IN AN ASS-KICKING CONTEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): FRUSTRATION
Date learned: 04-04-1970
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
BUSY AS A ONE ARM PAPER HANGER.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED TO CONVEY MUCH ACTIVITY. A PAPER HANGER IS A PERSON
WHO IN THE OLD DAYS HUNG WALLPAPER. A PERSON WHO HANGS WALL PAPER
WITH ONE ARM IS AN EXTREMELY BUSY PERSON. INFORMANT USES THIS TO
CONVEY A BUSY SITUATION. HE FOUND THIS QUITE AMUSING AND FIRST
HEARD IT AT WORK.
Data entry tech comment: GOOD GRIEF
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 10-15-1971