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call a spade a spade

call a spade a spade
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kawl ey speyd ey speyd]
    • /kɔl eɪ speɪd eɪ speɪd/
    • /kɔːl ə speɪd ə speɪd/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kawl ey speyd ey speyd]
    • /kɔl eɪ speɪd eɪ speɪd/

Definitions of call a spade a spade words

  • noun call a spade a spade to speak plainly and frankly 3
  • noun call a spade a spade to call something by its right name; use plain, blunt words 3
  • noun call a spade a spade a tool for digging, having an iron blade adapted for pressing into the ground with the foot and a long handle commonly with a grip or crosspiece at the top, and with the blade usually narrower and flatter than that of a shovel. 1
  • noun call a spade a spade some implement, piece, or part resembling this. 1
  • noun call a spade a spade a sharp projection on the bottom of a gun trail, designed to dig into the earth to restrict backward movement of the carriage during recoil. 1
  • verb with object call a spade a spade to dig, cut, or remove with a spade (sometimes followed by up): Let's spade up the garden and plant some flowers. 1
See all 10 definitions of call a spade a spade

Information block about the term

Origin of call a spade a spade

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English spadu; cognate with Dutch spade, German Spaten, Old Norse spathi spade, Greek spáthē broad, flat piece of wood

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Call a spade a spade

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Call a spade a spade

call a spade a spade popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 88% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

call a spade a spade usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for call a spade a spade

verb call a spade a spade

  • delineate — If you delineate something such as an idea or situation, you describe it or define it, often in a lot of detail.
  • represent — to present again or anew.
  • decide — If you decide to do something, you choose to do it, usually after you have thought carefully about the other possibilities.
  • describe — If you describe a person, object, event, or situation, you say what they are like or what happened.
  • prescribe — to lay down, in writing or otherwise, as a rule or a course of action to be followed; appoint, ordain, or enjoin.

adj call a spade a spade

  • categorical — If you are categorical about something, you state your views very definitely and firmly.
  • sincere — free of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest: a sincere apology.
  • outspoken — uttered or expressed with frankness or without reserve: outspoken criticism.
  • candid — When you are candid about something or with someone, you speak honestly.
  • blunt — If you are blunt, you say exactly what you think without trying to be polite.
All 75 Synonyms of call a spade a spade

Antonyms for call a spade a spade

verb call a spade a spade

  • hesitate — to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination: She hesitated to take the job.
  • obscure — (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.
  • misrepresent — to represent incorrectly, improperly, or falsely.
  • hide — Informal. to administer a beating to; thrash.
  • distort — to twist awry or out of shape; make crooked or deformed: Arthritis had distorted his fingers.

adj call a spade a spade

  • tactful — having or manifesting tact: a tactful person; a tactful reply.
  • dishonest — not honest; disposed to lie, cheat, or steal; not worthy of trust or belief: a dishonest person.
  • untruthful — not truthful; wanting in veracity; diverging from or contrary to the truth; not corresponding with fact or reality.
  • tricky — given to or characterized by deceitful tricks; crafty; wily.
  • devious — If you describe someone as devious you do not like them because you think they are dishonest and like to keep things secret, often in a complicated way.
All 29 Antonyms of call a spade a spade

See also

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