spade (redirected from Calling a spade a spade)

call a spade a spade

to tell the truth about something, even if it is not polite or pleasant. You know me, I call a spade a spade and when I see someone behaving like an idiot, I tell them.

See also: call

in spades (mainly American)

in large amounts or to a very great degree. The thing that you absolutely must have for this job is confidence - and Adam has it in spades. I don't get colds often, but when I do I get them in spades.

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call a spade a spade

to tell the unpleasant truth about something. Let's call a spade a spade – Brad is a very poor student.

See also: call

in spades

in large amounts or to a very great degree. He complained that Allan had stolen some of his ideas, but Silverman didn't mention that he had done the same in spades. All Freya really wanted was results, and results were what I gave her – in spades.