The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

YOU'LL NEED TO LICK THAT CALF AGAIN.

Submitter comment: THIS EXPRESSION IS USED BY THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER, HAZEL DARDEN,
BORN IN NORTH ALABAMA, WHO LIVES IN AUBURN, ALABAMA. THE EXPRES-
SION MEANS THAT IF YOU DON'T DO A JOB RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, IT
WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE OVER CORRECTLY. IF YOU ARE WATCHING
SOMEONE DO A JOB, AND THEY ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB, THEN YOU
SAY, "YOU'LL HAVE TO LICK THAT CALF AGAIN." THE INFORMANT
SAYS THAT HIS MOTHER HAS SAID THIS ALL HER LIFE.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; AUBURN

Date learned: NOT GIVEN