Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for April 11, 2014

Has anybody ever caught a tiger by the toe?

Hollering out loudly!

Calvin, you are something else…tigers do Not want their toes counted…Especially if they are napping! ;)

People with cats know better…

@Jan: When I was 5, my neighbors used that word when reciting “eenie, meanie…” When I recited it to my older sister she looked very sad and told me the meaning of the word; I have NEVER used it since.

How mant times we gotta tell you, Calvin, let sleeping tigers lie! Even moreso than somnolent canines.

Then why bring it up? And yes, a lot of us know what it was. In the interest of harmony, your a$$.

I remember liking this one because it’s a rare moment where Calvin does something pretty innocent and “real kid” ordinary.

The original racist version probably had the same results for the toe-grabber!

Oh, Calvin……..you never cease to entertain!

His mother must wonder how a toy tiger can do all that damage.

There have been different versions. Where I grew up in the early 60’s, it was ’Catch a spider by the toe." Of course, I never quite understood that. Spiders are not remarkable for their toes.

Only Katy Perry or Tarzan should do stuff like that.

DO NOT MISS Pearls before Swine today!!

Inner city Chicago had a different version.

This is how my son said it:

Eeny, meeny, miney moeCatch a tiger by the toeIf he hollers let him knowLearning to duck will soften the blow!

The look on both of their faces in frame two is priceless.

The “original” was English; “catch a begger”. Still, it probably wasn’t very nice then, either.

I don’t believe that the Author of that particular ditty, ever tried to catch a Tiger by the Toe!

I learned it as catch a (African American) by the toe. My father told me that is what is said in Ohio. Those Ohioans also call Brazil Nuts (African-American) toes.

Best Comment Ever!

@msowardsAs you can tell by my user ID, I share your political views but I try to keep C&H a politics free zone.-Fortunately, I grew up in an area where I did not hear the other version this rhyme. I did hear that word used, mostly by members of the community that it insults.

Hey Hobbs where is your sense of humor.

Pretty Painful injury… ._.

I heard two versions growing up:“If he hollers let him go,” and:“If he hollers, make him pay fifty dollars every day.”

When I was growing up, it wasn’t a tiger…

Calvin REALLY needs Hobbes in his life; he’s the only one who gives Calvin the whupping he so often needs and richly deserves. Good ol’ Hobbes.

Obviously someone who never had a tiger.

You can do that to a different tiger, Calvin, but you never do it on your friend Hobbes T. Tiger.