Call-a-spade-a-spade Definition

verb

(idiomatic) To speak the truth; to say things as they really are.

Wiktionary

Origin of Call-a-spade-a-spade

  • A mistaken translation of Ancient Greek τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην δὲ σκάφην ὀνομάσων ('calling figs figs, and a trough a trough'). The word σκάφη (skaphe, “trough”) was mistranslated by the medieval scholar Desiderius Erasmus as σκαφείον (skapheion, “digging tool”).

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to call-a-spade-a-spade using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Word Length