Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts
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CALL A SPADE A SPADE
to speak plainly or call smth. by its right name, even if it is unpleasant
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1. Some people say Ben is generous with his money, but I call a spade a spade. He’s not generous, he’s foolish.
2. It’s polite of you to refer to them as “lively” children, but let’s call a spade a spade. They are actually very naughty. Antonym: beat about/around the bush. The expression is usually used when something is described more favorably than it deserves. Call a spade a spade is a request for a more realistic description. The phrase dates back to ancient Greece, where the words for “spade,” “boat,” and “bowl” were very similar; the original translation may have been ‘call a boat a boat. ’ |
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