The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

YOU'LL NEED TO LICK THAT CALF OVER.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD THIS EXPRESSION ALL HIS
LIFE WHILE GROWING UP IN PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY. IN PARTICULAR
HE REMEMBERED HIS MOTHER, REBECCA BURCHETT, TELLING HIM THAT IF
HE DIDN'T DO THE JOB RIGHT, THAT HE WOLD HAVE TO LICK THE CALF
OVER. IT MEANT THAT IF YOU DIDN'T DO THE JOB RIGHT THE FIRST
TIME, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE OVER AGAIN TILL IT WAS DONE
RIGHT. THIS WAS IN PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY, BUT HE HAS ALSO
HEARD IT IN LEBANON, TENNESSEE USED IN THE SAME WAY.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; PRESTONSBURG

Date learned: NOT GIVEN