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Glite Dictionary
to call a spade a spade

to call a spade a spade

7 6.0
To speak clearly and honestly about something even if it is unpleasant
  • idiom
  • Informal
: 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 openly
vsto call a spade a spade
13 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
7 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
5 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
to speak one's mind
vsto call a spade a spade
  • Informal
1 3.5

Say what you think openly

is about plain direct speech about matters, not only personal opinions

Antonyms

to evade
29 3.9

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

to sugarcoat
  • Informal
18 5.0

Make something unpleasant seem nicer than it is

How Direct

to call a spade a spade
  • Informal
7 6.0
to suggest
∞ 2.1
to imply
439 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.