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call a spade a spade

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
call a spade a spade
Fig. to call something by its right name; to speak frankly about something, even if it is unpleasant. (Considered offensive by some. Use only with discretion.) Well, I believe it's time to call a spade a spade. We are just avoiding the issue. Let's call a spade a spade. The man is a liar.
See also: call, 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, spade

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, spade


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? References in classic literature
The man who could call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one.
Let them discriminate between what they remember and what they dreamed, call a spade a spade, give us facts, and honor their own senses with trust.
 
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