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We're confronted with great darkness as a species right now as spiritual creatures on this planet. I don't think it's hopeless, and I don't want 'You've Never Seen Everything' to make people feel hopeless. But I think we've got to call a spade a spade.
Bruce Cockburn

Meaning of "call a spade a spade" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF CALL A SPADE A SPADE

call a spade a spade play
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WHAT DOES CALL A SPADE A SPADE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

To call a spade a spade

To "call a spade a spade" is a figure of speech which explicitly calls out something as it is, by its right name. The implication is not to lie about what something is and instead to speak honestly and directly about a topic, specifically topics that others may avoid speaking about due to their sensitivity, unpleasant, or embarrassing nature. Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable defines it as: To be outspoken, blunt, even to the point of rudeness; to call things by their proper names without any "beating about the bush".

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE CALL A SPADE A SPADE

call a halt
call alarm
call box
call card
call centre
call down
call for margin
call forth
call girl
call in
call in question
call into being
call into play
call it a day
call it quits
call letters
call loan
call mark
call money
call number

WORDS THAT END LIKE CALL A SPADE A SPADE

arcade
blade
croupade
decade
escapade
estrapade
fade
gallopade
galopade
grade
handmade
jade
made
on the upgrade
parade
respade
shade
spade
trade
upgrade

Synonyms and antonyms of call a spade a spade in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «call a spade a spade» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF CALL A SPADE A SPADE

Find out the translation of call a spade a spade to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of call a spade a spade from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «call a spade a spade» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

实话实铲
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

llamar a las cosas por su nombre
570 millions of speakers

English

call a spade a spade
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

एक कुदाल एक कुदाल कॉल
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

استدعاء الأشياء بأسمائها
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

называть вещи своими именами
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

chamar os bois pelos nomes
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

স্পেডকে স্পেড বলুন
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

appeler un chat un chat
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Panggil sebungkus sekop
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

nennen die Dinge beim Namen
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

スペードスペードを呼び出す
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

스페이드삽을 호출
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Nelpon sungkur
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

gọi một thuổng một thuổng
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

ஒரு ஸ்பேட்டை ஒரு ஸ்பேட்டை அழைக்கவும்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

एक कुदळ एक कुदळ कॉल
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

Bir vatka çağırmak
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

chiamare le cose col loro nome
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

nazwać rzeczy po imieniu
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

називати речі своїми іменами
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

spunem lucrurilor pe nume
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

λέμε τα πράγματα με το όνομά τους
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

noem ´n graaf ´n graaf
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

kalla en spade för en spade
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

kalle en spade for en spade
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of call a spade a spade

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «CALL A SPADE A SPADE»

The term «call a spade a spade» is very widely used and occupies the 18.957 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
92
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «call a spade a spade» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of call a spade a spade
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «call a spade a spade».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «CALL A SPADE A SPADE» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «call a spade a spade» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «call a spade a spade» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about call a spade a spade

EXAMPLES

3 QUOTES WITH «CALL A SPADE A SPADE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word call a spade a spade.
1
Marc Andreessen
I don't like to not call a spade a spade.
2
Bruce Cockburn
We're confronted with great darkness as a species right now as spiritual creatures on this planet. I don't think it's hopeless, and I don't want 'You've Never Seen Everything' to make people feel hopeless. But I think we've got to call a spade a spade.
3
Lena Dunham
Let's call a spade a spade - a lot of times when you are a vegetarian it is a just not very effective eating disorder.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «CALL A SPADE A SPADE»

Discover the use of call a spade a spade in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to call a spade a spade and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Call a spade a spade: from classical phrase to racial slur : ...
This book is an attempt to trace the origin, history, dissemination, and meaning of the well-known proverbial expression "to call a spade a spade.
Wolfgang Mieder, 2002
2
It's Time to Call a Spade a Spade
David Walker. of the state of Alabama to encourage a religious activity. [It] is a law respecting the establishment of religion and thus violates the First Amendment." 33 In other words, even if the wording is constitutionally acceptable, a law may ...
David Walker, 2009
3
Doubling the Point: Essays and Interviews
It means freedom to call a spade a spade. It means returning to the true names of things, particularly to the "simple and natural" obscene words that have been driven out and now haunt the margins of the imagination. Strictly interpreted, this  ...
David Attwell, 1992
4
The Trial of Sir John Falstaff: Wherein the Fat Knight is ...
Call a Spade a Spade. 203 Yarmouth grammar-school, I read in Quintilian of a teacher of rhetoric, whose constant admonition to his pupils was, " darken, darken ! " as the readiest mode of gaining admiration. Mine ancient, let us not darken our ...
A. M. F. Randolph, 2007
5
National Morality: Volume 1: Thinking Outside the Box: A ...
Today in America, we must not be afraid to call a spade a spade. Today in America, we must not be prevented from calling a spade a spade. Politically- correct speech, which seems to be the only truly free speech left in this country, will not do ...
Thomas D. Midgette, 2007
6
Cultural Genocide in the Black and African Studies Curriculum
."CALL A SPADE A SPADE ?" When shall we be able to say that. . . THIS CHRISTIAN [or JEWISH] TEACHER, PRIEST, RABBI, MINISTER, EDUCATOR, ADMINISTRATOR. ..,etc. ISA RACIST [or RELIGIOUS BIGOT]..., etc., etc., etc., and not ...
Yosef Ben-Jochannan, 2004
7
The New Jerusalem
He must not only call a spade a spade, but regard it as a spade and not as a speculation. By some true conversion the urban and modern man must be not only on the soil, but of the soil, and free from our urban trick of inventing the word dirt ...
G. K. Cherston, 1stworld Library, 2005
8
Why Beulah Shot Her Pistol Inside the Baptist Church
Or as my daddy has always said, “Buchanans call a spade a spade.” So I'm calling a spade a spade when I tell you I'm glad Ralph's six feet under in the cemetery. Why do I feel this way? I feel the way I do because my husband was no good.
Clayton Sullivan, 2011
9
Solid Ground: Business Refresher
Call a spade a spade means to speak plainly,to say it like it is. e.g. Germans tend to be explicit and direct. They say what they mean and don't mind calling a spade a spade. To have egg on your face means to be embarrassed because of a ...
Joan von Ehren, 2009
10
Come to the House of the Lord
Many of us today take satisfaction in being able to say: "I never beat about the bush, but call a spade a spade." This is typical red-blooded Americana: a proud carryover from the spirit of the robust American frontier. Yet the plain fact of the ...
David S. King, 2000

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «CALL A SPADE A SPADE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term call a spade a spade is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Jindal: Obama 'Clueless' on Claim ISIS Can Be Defeated With 'Ideas'
“President Obama won't call a spade a spade, which is why he has no strategy to defeat ISIS,” the Louisiana governor added. “The result is that ... «Breitbart News, Jul 15»
2
Rihanna's Shadiest Instagram And Twitter Moments: Top 6 Fights …
I call a spade a spade, OK?" T-Boz continues, "We sold and became the biggest girl selling group of all time, with our clothes on. That says a lot ... «Fashion & Style, Jul 15»
3
Do People Actually Care About the Royal Christening Round 2? We …
It's not like we're sitting at home monitoring every move the Windsors make, but let's call a spade a spade here. Kate and Will (and their brood) ... «E! Online, Jul 15»
4
UK: Politicians Urge Ban on the Term “Islamic State”
We need to speak plainly, to call a spade a spade. We can't censor the use of “Muslim” or “Islamic.” “That just lets too many people off the hook. «Breaking Israel News, Jul 15»
5
Overnight Finance: Back to Ex-Im fight; WH wants Greece in eurozone
WHAT ABOUT MCCARTHY? A former top GOP aide who supports the bank emails OVERNIGHT: "I have to call a spade a spade here -- [House ... «The Hill, Jul 15»
6
The Sunday Six: Apparel best suited for American flag patterns
Let's all call a spade a spade: The American flag is beautiful. It's the most powerful flag in the world. I've cried before watching it get raised at ... «Waterbury Republican American, Jul 15»
7
Kashmir and Sangh - Sajjad Lone takes a bold stance
Perhaps it is for the first time in the history of Jammu & Kashmir that a separatist turned politician has dared to call a spade a spade by saying ... «Niticentral, Jul 15»
8
UK: Politicians Urge Ban on the Term "Islamic State"
We need to speak plainly, to call a spade a spade. We can't censor the use of "Muslim" or "Islamic." "That just lets too many people off the hook. «Gatestone Institute, Jul 15»
9
'As an Actor, You can Lose Identity if You Live the Image People …
Not afraid to call a spade a spade, Arshad says he doesn't understand all the fuss about method acting. “I read about actors living in slums to ... «The New Indian Express, Jul 15»
10
Time to call a spade a spade
Time to call a spade a spade .... India's policymakers, her negotiators and her intellectuals should call a spade a spade at Paris to escape this ... «Hindu Business Line, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Call a spade a spade [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/call-a-spade-a-spade>. Apr 2024 ».
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