# call a spade a spade

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/call-a-spade-a-spade
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To put it bluntly, to be outspoken; to speak the truth, to describe things as they really are.

## Examples

- He always calls a spade a spade, even when it hurts.
- You should call a spade a spade if you want people to trust you.
- They call a spade a spade when they discuss the poor quality of the food.
- During the meeting, she decided to call a spade a spade and told the team that the project was failing.
- I appreciate that our new manager prefers to call a spade a spade instead of hiding the budget problems behind confusing corporate language.
- We need a friend who will call a spade a spade and tell us if this business idea is actually going to work.
- Rather than masking the harsh reality with polite euphemisms, the veteran journalist preferred to call a spade a spade in his final report.

## Origin

A mistaken translation of Ancient Greek τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην δὲ σκάφην ὀνομάσων (tà sûka sûka, tḕn skáphēn dè skáphēn onomásōn, “calling figs figs, and a trough a trough”). The word σκάφη (skáphē, “trough”) was mistranslated by the Renaissance scholar Desiderius Erasmus as σκαφείον (skapheíon, “digging tool”).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.