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Glite Dictionary
to call a spade a spade

to call a spade a spade

6 6.0
To speak clearly and honestly about something even if it is unpleasant
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hablar claro
  • It's not easy, but sometimes you need to call a spade a spade and address the issue directly.
  • Let's call a spade a spade
  • Just call a spade a spade

And by the way, let's all call a spade a spade.

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Examples

  • Let's call a spade a spade.

    Talk Radio (1988)

  • In the interest of honesty and disclosure, let's call a spade a spade.

    Blog text (8)

  • That leaves only me in favor of calling a spade a spade.

    28 Days (2000)

  • I am as ready as the next fellow to call a spade a spade.

    The Golden Bowl (2000)

  • Sure, it may be a few years off, but why not call a spade a spade?

    Blog text (24)

  • ... that people are beginning to stand up and call a spade a spade.

    Blog text (22)

  • We have to call a spade a spade and tackle it as such.

    Blog text (18)

  • Moreover, they need to lose the intimidation factor and not be afraid to call a spade a spade.

    Blog text (3)

  • Perhaps it's time to call a spade a spade instead of playing the gutless appeasement game.

    Blog text (9)

  • During the meeting, he decided to call a spade a spade and confront the uncomfortable topic head-on.

Synonyms

to speak one's mind
vsto call a spade a spade
  • Informal
21 3.5

Say what you think openly

is about plain direct speech about matters, not only personal opinions
to speak openly
vsto call a spade a spade
7 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

focuses on plain direct speech even when topics are unpleasant
to make no bones about
vsto call a spade a spade
6 6.1

Say something openly and directly without hiding it

is direct even when the matter is unpleasant or controversial
to get straight to the point
vsto call a spade a spade
6 3.5

To speak directly about the main idea without extra details

focuses on plain direct content even when the subject is unpleasant or controversial
to mince no words
vsto call a spade a spade
  • Informal
1 7.7

Speak very directly without trying to be polite

is direct but focuses on plain truth rather than blunt harshness

Antonyms

to evade
31 3.9

To avoid doing something you should do, for example a duty or a direct question

to sugarcoat
  • Informal
19 5.0

Make something unpleasant seem nicer than it is

How Direct

to call a spade a spade
  • Informal
6 6.0
to suggest
∞ 2.1
to imply
367 3.5

Surface Forms

call a spade a spade infinitive
called a spade a spade past
called a spade a spade past participle
calling a spade a spade present participle
calls a spade a spade third person singular

Morphology

call + a + spade + a + spade

The literal parts ('call' = name, 'spade' = digging tool) make the core idea — naming something as it is — fairly recoverable, so a learner who knows the words can infer that the phrase concerns calling things by their proper name. However, the proverb-like idiomatic use (emphasising bluntness or saying unpleasant truths) is a pragmatic extension and somewhat culturally loaded, so the exact force and conventional usage are not fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Call a spade a spade may come from a simple image of naming a garden tool exactly as it is: if you call a spade a spade, you use the plain word instead of a softer one. So, it means 'to speak plainly and directly', even when the truth is unpleasant.