call a spade a spade
phrase
1
: to call a thing by its right name however coarse
2
: to speak frankly
Why don't you just call a spade a spade and say that he is a liar?
Cite this Entry
“Call a spade a spade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call%20a%20spade%20a%20spade. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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