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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 an ambulancecall inat one's beck and callAppendix:Snowclones/X me and call me Ycall 'em as one sees 'emcall forcall forthcall forcall forcall backcall inabove and beyond the call of dutycall downbeyond the call of duty

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