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call a spade a spade

To speak the truth; to say things as they really are.

Etymology:

  • A mistaken translation of Ancient Greek τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην δὲ σκάφην ὀνομάσων. The word σκάφη was mistranslated by the medieval scholar Desiderius Erasmus as σκαφείον.
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Maybe God just calls a spade a spade, when the president talks to God. - Bright Eyes.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Translation

Find a translation for the call a spade a spade phrase in other languages:

llamar a las cosas por su nombre

називати речі своїми іменами

gọi một thuổng một thuổng

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to call a spade a spade

call forbe at one's beck and callAppendix:Snowclones/X me and call me Ycall awaycall incall backbeck and callcall an audiblecall (someone) out (on something)call forcall downcall forabove and beyond the call of dutycall an ambulance

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    "call a spade a spade." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/call-a-spade-a-spade_2742>.

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