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Meaning of call a spade a spade | Babel Free

Verb CEFR C2

Definitions

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

idiomatic

Equivalents

Deutsch das Kind beim Namen nennen die Dinge beim Namen nennen es auf gut Deutsch sagen
Español llamar al pan, pan, y al vino, vino llamar las cosas por su nombre
Suomi totta puhuen
Français appeler un chat un chat
Italiano dire pane al pane e vino al vino parla come mangi
Nederlands de dingen bij hun naam noemen een kat een kat noemen man en paard noemen
Polski nazywać rzeczy po imieniu
Português pão, pão, queijo, queijo
Svenska en spade är en spade

Examples

“Maybe God just calls a spade a spade, when the president talks to God.”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See also

call ahead call an audible call around call away call back call balls and strikes

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