The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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

Date learned: 10-15-1971