Gimpel Beynish the Matchmaker
(Gimpl Beynish der Shadkhn)
Yiddish Comics of the early 20th century

I learned a new work from this comic strip: כּל־בו (kolboy)
Derived from the book of prayers containing the liturgy for the whole year, it usually means "factotum, handy-man; catchall" . But in the typical snide Yiddish way it can be used sarcastically:
אין אים איז כּל־בו ‪‬
"he has every defect, he is full of faults"
Tacking a Slavic ending on this Hebrew epithet, Gimpel calls his competitor Moyshe Motel a kolboynik which means "know-it-all, rascal, jack of all trades" but could also, I expect, mean "full of faults." I guess you have to take your pick.

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March 29, 1914: One must concede that his competitor conducts business on a grander scale than he does.

1. GB: What's this? Moyshe Motel is standing with a woman. Again he has a match.
   
2. GB: I have to go stick a foot in the cholent. Maybe there'll be some money for me to make.
   
3. Moyshe Motl: Hello, Mr. Gimpel Beynish! How's it going? Do you already have wine for the "four cups" of Passover?
   
4. Moyshe Motl: Say, chauffeur, come here; take us to Bronzeville - he lives there, you know.
   
5. GB: Well, what can you say about this know-it-all? He's used to no less than automobiles.

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Labels: competition, envy