Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to call a spade a spade
idiom
/tʊ kɔːl ə speɪd ə speɪd/
Definition
To speak frankly and directly about something, especially when it is unpleasant or embarrassing.
Examples
- She always calls a spade a spade, never hesitating to point out flaws in the project.
- We need to call a spade a spade and acknowledge the challenges we are facing.
Meaning
This phrase means to address a subject directly without avoiding or sugar-coating it.
Synonyms
- be straightforward
- be blunt
- face the truth
