call a spade a spade
Say it plainly
To call a spade a spade is to speak plainly and directly, naming things for what they are without euphemism or evasion: I'm going to call a spade a spade—your business plan won't work.
The phrase sometimes carries a note of bluntness that risks offense, but the speaker typically frames it as honesty rather than rudeness.
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
- candidHonest and direct
- frankOpen and direct
- minceCut into fragments
truthfulness · directness · speak plainly · plainspoken · transparency · plain · brutally honest · figures of speech · authenticity · straight-from-the-shoulder · pull no punches · sincere · proverbial expressions · plain-speaking · honesty · straightforward · lay it on the line · open
call a spade a spadebeat around the bush
Avoid stating directly
mince words · hedge · sugarcoat · equivocate · tiptoe around
call a spade a spadehandle with care
Instruction for delicate items
err on the side of caution · pull one's punches · soften the blow · keep one's counsel · walk on eggshells
call a spade a spadelie through one's teeth
Deliberately tell obvious falsehoods
dissemble · deceive · mislead · whitewash · gloss over
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