- Meaning
- This idiom describes someone who speaks bluntly, honestly, or directly, naming things as they are without euphemism or pretense, as if plainly calling a spade (a tool) a spade. It conveys straightforwardness or unfiltered truth-telling, often used in personal, professional, or character contexts to praise or critique candid speech, sometimes implying tactlessness. The phrase carries a tone of admiration, caution, or neutrality, reflecting cultural valuing of honesty and the human tension between diplomacy and bluntness. It resonates in situations requiring clarity or confrontation, capturing the boldness of plain speech, and its rustic imagery adds a layer of grounded simplicity, evoking a no-nonsense tool. The idiom often highlights authenticity or risk, making it a vivid metaphor for unvarnished communication.
- Origin
- The phrase originates from ancient Greece, with a precursor in Plutarch’s *Moralia* (1st century CE): ‘To call a fig a fig and a spade a spade.’ Its English form emerged in the 16th century, via Erasmus’ 1536 translation of Plutarch, rendering it as ‘call a spade a spade.’ The idiom gained traction in Elizabethan England, reflecting a culture valuing plain speech, as seen in William Shakespeare’s *Hamlet* (1600), which explores honesty. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, particularly in political and social commentary, with Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853) using it for candid characters. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through media, notably in *The New York Times* profiles of outspoken figures. Its spread to Commonwealth English came through British influence, and its vivid imagery, evoking a simple tool, and its applicability to honesty ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from debates to character sketches.
- Variants
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- He calls a spade a spade
- Call a spade a spade
- Calls things a spade
- Speak spade to spade
- Examples
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- He calls a spade a spade, bluntly pointing out the team’s flaws.
- Call a spade a spade—she admitted the project was a failure.
- Calls things a spade, he doesn’t sugarcoat bad news.
- Speak spade to spade, and tell them the deal’s off.
- He calls a spade a spade, never hiding his true opinions.
- Call a spade a spade—don’t pretend the plan is working.
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