Example: She always calls a spade a spade, telling the truth clearly.
Definition
"To call a spade a spade" means to speak honestly and directly about something, especially when the truth might be unpleasant or blunt. It involves describing a situation or person exactly as they are, without sugarcoating or euphemisms.
The phrase "to call a spade a spade" originates from ancient Greek, where it was used to mean speaking plainly. The English version dates back to the 16th century, emphasizing straightforward speech. Interestingly, the term 'spade' here refers to a type of digging tool, symbolizing bluntness and directness in description.
Learn to use this expression actively
"To call a spade a spade" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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