Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Crack returned 126 results.
Retort
That's about as funny as a screen door in a submarine!
Submitter comment:
To be said to someone when they have just told a joke.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; HUMOR ; INSULT ; JOKE ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
When someone has a coughing spell:
"What do you want, sympathy?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SNEEZE ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
If you speak of someone who you see in the near future you say:
"Speak of the devil and the imp appears."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Taunt?
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; DEVIL ; Imp ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SPEECH ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
I feel like a tailor.
How's that?
sew-sew.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Fabric ; HUMOR ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SEWING ; Tailor ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
There's a method in my madness.
There's a madness in my method.
Submitter comment:
Heard this in high school.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; MADNESS ; Method ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RETORT ; Sanity ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Lies ; Questions ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TRUTH ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Person asks a question. You answer:
"What's it to you? You writing a book?"
If the person says "Yes," you say:
"Well, leave this chapter a mystery!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BOOK ; Chapter ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Mystery ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Your teeth are like stars. They come out at night.
Submitter comment:
This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Night ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; STARS ; TEETH ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You are so dumb that you could screw up a one-car funeral.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Just the hearse?
Keyword(s): Car ; COMEBACK ; Dumb ; Funeral ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You're outstanding in your field, and that's where you should be - out standing in your field.
Submitter comment:
This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Taunt in Prose
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Who do you think you are, anyhow?
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The original title [Wellerism] has been crossed out.
Why not S570? Retort? Yes.
Original BN [V500] crossed out. replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You should be on the stage, it's leaving in ten minutes.
Submitter comment:
This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Title [Taunt in Prose] crossed out. Replaced with current title.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Shut up? I wasn't shut up, I was brought up, and when I think of you I throw up.
Submitter comment:
Collected upon hearing the informant answer someone who told him to shut up.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
He thinks he's sharp just because his head comes to a point.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [Z210] crossed out replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Did your mother have any children that lived?
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Sense?
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You think you're funny but your face beat you to it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Put-Down? Taunt?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Funny ; HUMOR ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"I doubt it"
Submitter comment:
A phrase used by high school students in reply to any question asked of them, particularly when a yes or no answer was involved mostly favoring the affirmative.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
A large question mark is written next to the collector's comment
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; LOS ANGELES
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Doubt ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Detroit, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The question [Proves what?] is written next to the collector comment.
Original BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Appreciation ; COMEBACK ; Generous ; GIFT ; Grateful ; Greedy ; HORSE ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; TEETH ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Retort
Does your face hurt? No? Well, it's killing me!
Submitter comment:
Heard it from a friend
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The original title [Jokes] has been crossed out. Replaced wtih current title.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; FACE ; Hurt ; INSULT ; Kill ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |