Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for INSULT returned 164 results.
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
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
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
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 |
Retort
I've changed my mind.
Retort: "Good. Does it work better now?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Retort?
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Mind ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
I'm having trouble with my breathing.
Retort: I can give you something to stop that.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Breathing ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Unwanted Singer:
If someone is singing (person B) and someone else (person A) wants to shut him up or put him down:
A) What did you do with the money?
B) What money?
A) The money your mother gave you to take music lessons!
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Lessons ; MONEY ; MUSIC ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SINGING ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Put an egg in your shoe and beat it!
Submitter comment:
Spoken after a twenty minute argument with his cousin.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
I don't know where Mom is, but we've got Pop on ice!
Submitter comment:
My father used to say this to me when I was small and would ask him where my mother was!
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C532] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Ice ; INSULT ; Mom ; POP ; PUN ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SLANG ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
When someone burps, reply to him:
"Excuse the hog, the pig just left."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Burp ; COMEBACK ; Hog ; INSULT ; MANNERS ; Pig ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
That'll be a cold day in hell.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The word retort is circled, and the question [To What?] is written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Cold ; COMEBACK ; HELL ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TEMPERATURE ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |