--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Callahan dried his big meaty hands on his…" description: "\"“Callahan dried his big meaty hands on his apron and cleared his throat with a sound like a bulldozer in pain.”\" — Spider Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/spider-robinson-9623_character_callahan-dried-his-big-meaty-hands-on-hi_1189605.jpg" --- # Callahan dried his big meaty hands on his apron and… ![“Callahan dried his big meaty hands on his apron and cleared his throat with a sound like a bulldozer in pain.” quote by Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/spider-robinson-9623_character_callahan-dried-his-big-meaty-hands-on-hi_1189605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/spider-robinson-9623_character_callahan-dried-his-big-meaty-hands-on-hi_1189605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/spider-robinson-9623_character_callahan-dried-his-big-meaty-hands-on-hi_1189605.jpg) > ““Callahan dried his big meaty hands on his apron and cleared his throat with a sound like a bulldozer in pain.”” [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a character's rough, painful clearing of throat as a vivid, humorous image. **In simple terms:** A painful throat clearing is humorously described. Key Takeaway Use vivid detail to enhance storytelling. Themes humor description characterization Mood playful ironic Type literary humorous When to use this quote - writing - stand‑up comedy - narrative voice - character development Key Concepts sensory detail comic relief voice Questions to Reflect On - How can vivid detail improve your writing? - When is humor appropriate in serious scenes? A Different Perspective Humor may alienate some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ## Related quotes > [“Reid cleared his throat. “Um, I wouldn’t challenge her on this. She once shot Johnny in the ass with buckshot when his mom ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-langlais/reid-cleared-his-throat-um-i-wouldn-t-challenge-her-on-this-she-once/) [Eve Langlais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-langlais/) > [“room. Angus cleared his throat, and Rafe and Kade stared down at their plates, all signs of their previous amusement”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lael-miller/room-angus-cleared-his-throat-and-rafe-and-kade-stared-down-at-their/) [Linda Lael Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lael-miller/) > [“When he backed away, his pupils were huge and unfocused. He blinked, and then he cleared his throat. "Belly," he said, and his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge-and-unfocused-he-blinked-and/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Hal...cleared his throat."…Doing the hard stuff's what makes it an adventure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-s-tolan/hal-cleared-his-throat-doing-the-hard-stuff-s-what-makes-it-an/) [Stephanie S. Tolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-s-tolan/) > [“That’s excellent, Sophie.” He cleared his throat and snapped the vibrations off, giving Sophie a couple of seconds to gather herself together as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-french/that-s-excellent-sophie-he-cleared-his-throat-and-snapped-the/) [Kitty French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-french/) > [I cleared my throat - it isn't frogs you get in your throat; it's memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/i-cleared-my-throat-it-isn-t-frogs-you-get-in-your-throat-it-s/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“I forgive you." I cleared my throat so the whole camp could hear. "Darren, did you hear me? I. Forgive. You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-e-carter/i-forgive-you-i-cleared-my-throat-so-the-whole-camp-could-hear-darren/) [Rachel E. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-e-carter/) > [“The gentlemen would like to know if'- he cleared his throat- 'that boom was as bloody brilliant as they thought it was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/the-gentlemen-would-like-to-know-if-he-cleared-his-throat-that-boom/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“He cleared his throat. “One good thing about the range, Starling, is there’s no politics out there.” “No?” “You were right to secure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/he-cleared-his-throat-one-good-thing-about-the-range-starling-is/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [“She found the page, cleared her throat and began to read, " 'There was nary a doubt that I had ever seen such big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/she-found-the-page-cleared-her-throat-and-began-to-read-there-was/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Mr. Carter cleared his throat. “Soy sauce.” He deadpanned. “Really, Sera?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-roberts/mr-carter-cleared-his-throat-soy-sauce-he-deadpanned-really-sera/) [Flora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-roberts/) > [“He finally cleared his throat. "Well, huh." "Yeah," I said. "What now?" "Well"—he cleared his throat again—"I guess you and I go. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/he-finally-cleared-his-throat-well-huh-yeah-i-said-what-now-well-he/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [He cleared his throat and reminded himself that if you pissed Her Holiness off, they'd need barbecue tongs to pick up your steaming pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-cleared-his-throat-and-reminded-himself-that-if-you-pissed-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He cleared his throat. “You noticed.” “And guys just don’t seem to notice me at all!” “Forgive me for not being too broken up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisey-yates/he-cleared-his-throat-you-noticed-and-guys-just-don-t-seem-to-notice/) [Maisey Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisey-yates/) > [“Finally, after Death was ready to hang himself from boredom, the director cleared his throat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-teale/finally-after-death-was-ready-to-hang-himself-from-boredom-the/) Leigh Teale ## More by Spider Robinson > [“There's a price for absolution on this planet, and it's called penance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/there-s-a-price-for-absolution-on-this-planet-and-it-s-called-penance/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [And I repeat: if there is anything that can divert the land of my birth from its current stampede into the Stone Age, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/and-i-repeat-if-there-is-anything-that-can-divert-the-land-of-my/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“Annie clouded up. For a second, he thought she was going to erupt, and flinched. She saw that...and got control of herself with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/annie-clouded-up-for-a-second-he-thought-she-was-going-to-erupt-and/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > […when writing, always hook the reader with your first sentence…in love, never settle…value yourself first and this will help you to value others…life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/when-writing-always-hook-the-reader-with-your-first-sentence-in-love/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [If you've lived a bad life, they send you to Hell. But if you've been truly wicked, they give you a tour of Heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/if-you-ve-lived-a-bad-life-they-send-you-to-hell-but-if-you-ve-been/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [The whole world turns upside down in ten years, but you turn upside down with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/the-whole-world-turns-upside-down-in-ten-years-but-you-turn-upside/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“I had not until then fully realized that I was odd, that there was anything strange about growing up with a single-parent genius. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/i-had-not-until-then-fully-realized-that-i-was-odd-that-there-was/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“Shared pain is lessened Shared joy is increased Thus do we refute entropy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/shared-pain-is-lessened-shared-joy-is-increased-thus-do-we-refute/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [She danced because she needed to. She needed to say things which could be said in no other way, and she needed to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/she-danced-because-she-needed-to-she-needed-to-say-things-which-could/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [Sometimes I think I must have a Guardian Idiot. A little invisible spirit just behind my shoulder, looking out for me...only he's an imbecile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/sometimes-i-think-i-must-have-a-guardian-idiot-a-little-invisible/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [...I know good design when I fail to trip over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/i-know-good-design-when-i-fail-to-trip-over-it/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [The problems of today's youth were no longer a Sunday supplement, or a news broadcast, or anything so remote and intangible. They were suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/the-problems-of-today-s-youth-were-no-longer-a-sunday-supplement-or-a/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [Now that I finally have the time for it, this web surfing stuff turns out to be as interesting and fun and addictive as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/now-that-i-finally-have-the-time-for-it-this-web-surfing-stuff-turns/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [Librarians are like crack dealers when it comes to hooking small children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/librarians-are-like-crack-dealers-when-it-comes-to-hooking-small/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [We did make use, from time to time, of candles, neckties, scarves, shoelaces, a little water-color paintbrush, her hairbrush, butter, whipped cream, strawberry jam,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/we-did-make-use-from-time-to-time-of-candles-neckties-scarves/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) [Explore all 71 Spider Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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