"Call a spade a spade" is a figurative expression. It refers to calling something "as it is"[1]—that is, by its right or proper name, without "beating about the bush", but rather speaking truthfully, frankly, and directly about a topic, even to the point of bluntness or rudeness, and even if the subject is considered coarse, impolite, or unpleasant.
"Call a spade a spade" or "call a spade a shovel" are both forms of the figurative expression which state that the speaker should call, or has called, a noun by its most suitable name without any reservation to the strained formalities that may result.[1][2][3] The implication is telling the truth regarding the nature of the thing in question,[4] speaking frankly and directly about it,[2][3] even if it is considered coarse, impolite, or unpleasant.[4][2][3]Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable defines it in 1913 as being "outspoken, blunt, even to the point of rudeness", adding that it implies calling "things by their proper names without any 'beating about the bush'".[5]
Robert Burton used the idiom in his The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) to describe his ostensibly plain writing style, claiming, "I call a spade a spade" (1.17.23).[7]: 2 n.3 The phrase also appeared in Joseph Devlin's book How to Speak and Write Correctly (1910) to satirize speakers who chose their words to show superiority: "For instance, you may not want to call a spade a spade. You may prefer to call it a spatulous device for abrading the surface of the soil. Better, however, to stick to the old familiar, simple name that your grandfather called it."[8] Oscar Wilde uses the phrase in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), when the character Lord Henry Wotton remarks: "It is a sad truth, but we have lost the faculty of giving lovely names to things. The man who could call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one. It is the only thing he is fit for."[9] Wilde uses it again in The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).[10] Other authors who have used it in their works include Charles Dickens,[11] Ralph Waldo Emerson,[12]Robert Browning,[13] Jonathan Swift,[14] and W. Somerset Maugham.[15]
The equivalent expression in Spanish-speaking countries is "a llamar al pan pan, y al vino vino", which translates as "to call the bread bread, and to call the wine wine". Italian has a similar expression to the Spanish "dire pane al pane e vino al vino", literally "to say bread to the bread and wine to the wine".[17] The equivalent in French-speaking countries is "appeler un chat, un chat", which translates as "to call a cat a cat".[18]
History
The ultimate source of this idiom is a phrase in Plutarch's Apophthegmata Laconica: 'τὴν σκάφην σκάφην λέγοντας (tēn skaphēn skaphēn legontas).[19]The word σκαφη (skaphe) means "basin, or trough."[20]LucianDe Hist. Conscr. (41) has τὰ σύκα σύκα, τὴν σκάφην δὲ σκάφην ὀνομάσων (ta suka suka, tēn skaphēn de skaphēn onomasōn),[21] "calling a fig a fig, and a trough a trough".
Erasmus translated Plutarch's σκαφην (skaphe), as if from σπάθη (spáthe), as ligo "shovel" in his Apophthegmatum opus. Lakshmi Gandhi speculates that the introduction of the word "shovel" may have been a conscious, dramatic choice rather than a mistranslation.[15]
The phrase was introduced to English in 1542 in Nicolas Udall's translation of Erasmus' work, Apophthegmes, that is to saie, prompte saiynges. First gathered by Erasmus:[15]
Philippus aunswered, that the Macedonians wer feloes of no fyne witte in their termes but altogether grosse, clubbyshe, and rusticall, as they whiche had not the witte to calle a spade by any other name than a spade.
In the expression, the word spade refers to the instrument used to move earth, a very common tool.[15] The same word was used in England, Scandinavia, and in the Netherlands,[22] Erasmus' country of origin.[23]
^ abMartin, Gary. "'Call a spade a spade' - the meaning and origin of this phrase". Phrasefinder.
^ abcdMerriam-Webster (2003). "Spade; To call a spade a spade". Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary (11th ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. ISBN0877798079. Retrieved 29 Oct 2015.
^ abcdMcGraw-Hill (2002). "Spade; To call a spade a spade". In Spears, Richard (ed.). McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. New York: McGraw Hill Professional. ISBN0071435786. Retrieved 29 Oct 2015.
^ abcCambridge University Press (2006). "Spade; To call a spade a spade". Cambridge Idioms Dictionary (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN3125335973. Retrieved 29 Oct 2015.
^ abBrewer, Ebenezer Cobham (1913). "Spade; To call a spade a spade". Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. New York, NY: Harper & Brothers. p. 853. Retrieved 29 Oct 2015.
^Wilton, Dave (9 Apr 2006). "call a spade a spade". Word Origins. Retrieved 1 Jun 2016. We did not think it hypocritical to draw over our vagaries the curtain of a decent silence. The spade was not invariably called a bloody shovel.
^Gowland, Angus (2001). "Rhetorical Structure and Function in The Anatomy of Melancholy". Rhetorica: A Journal of the History of Rhetoric. 19 (1): 1–48. doi:10.1525/rh.2001.19.1.1.
^Devlin, Joseph (1910), How to Speak and Write Correctly, New York: The Christian Herald, p. 4
^Wilde, Oscar (10 Dec 2015). The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wisehouse Classics. p. 136. ISBN978-9176371145.
^The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People at Project Gutenberg
^Dickens, Charles (1854). Hard Times. London: Bradbury & Evans. p. 39. Retrieved 17 Apr 2021.
^Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Essays: First Series [1841]—Prudence". American Transcendentalism Web. Retrieved 17 Apr 2021.
^Browning, Robert (1875). Aristophanes' Apology: Including a Transcript from Euripides Being The Last Adventure of Balaustion, Numéro 820. London: Smith, Elder, & Co. p. 25. Retrieved 17 Apr 2021.
^Swift, Jonathan (1801). "Polite Conversation: Dialogue III". In Thomas Sheridan; John Nichols (eds.). The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume VIII. London: Nichols & Son. p. 365. Retrieved 17 Apr 2021.
^ abcdeGandhi, Lakshmi (23 Sep 2013). "Code Switch: Is It Racist To 'Call A Spade A Spade'?". NPR. Retrieved 29 Oct 2015.
^"Idioms translated across languages and countries". Idiomatically. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
^"Appeler un chat un chat". LawlessFrench.com. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^τῶν δὲ περὶ Λασθένην τὸν Ὀλύνθιον ἐγκαλούντων καὶ ἀγανακτούντων, ὅτι προδότας αὐτοὺς ἔνιοι τῶν περὶ τὸν Φίλιππον ἀποκαλοῦσι, σκαιοὺς ἔφη φύσει καὶ ἀγροίκους εἶναι Μακεδόνας καὶ τὴν σκάφην σκάφην λέγοντας., "When the men associated with Lasthenes, the Olynthian, complained with indignation because some of Philip's associates called them traitors, he said that the Macedonians are by nature a rough and rustic people who call a spade a spade.", Plutarch, Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata, 26.15
^desiderius erasmus roterodamus: erasmus van rotterdam, Rotterdam.nl 7 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine
January 14, 2023
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For a definition of the expression call a spade a spade see the Wiktionary entry call a spade a spade For the Wikipedia essay on word choice see Wikipedia Call a spade a spade Call a spade a spade is a figurative expression It refers to calling something as it is 1 that is by its right or proper name without beating about the bush but rather speaking truthfully frankly and directly about a topic even to the point of bluntness or rudeness and even if the subject is considered coarse impolite or unpleasant The idiom originates in the classical Greek of Plutarch s Apophthegmata Laconica and was introduced into the English language in 1542 in Nicolas Udall s translation of the Apophthegmes where Erasmus had seemingly replaced Plutarch s images of trough and fig with the more familiar spade It has appeared in many literary and popular works including those of Oscar Wilde Charles Dickens Ralph Waldo Emerson W Somerset Maugham and Jonathan Swift Contents 1 Definition 1 1 Usage 2 History 3 See also 4 ReferencesDefinition Edit Call a spade a spade or call a spade a shovel are both forms of the figurative expression which state that the speaker should call or has called a noun by its most suitable name without any reservation to the strained formalities that may result 1 2 3 The implication is telling the truth regarding the nature of the thing in question 4 speaking frankly and directly about it 2 3 even if it is considered coarse impolite or unpleasant 4 2 3 Brewer s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable defines it in 1913 as being outspoken blunt even to the point of rudeness adding that it implies calling things by their proper names without any beating about the bush 5 Usage Edit Brewer s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable in 1913 5 provides a definition largely consistent with contemporary English usage in the early 21st century 4 2 3 The Oxford English Dictionary records a forceful obscene variant to call a spade a bloody shovel attested since 1919 6 Robert Burton used the idiom in his The Anatomy of Melancholy 1621 to describe his ostensibly plain writing style claiming I call a spade a spade 1 17 23 7 2 n 3 The phrase also appeared in Joseph Devlin s book How to Speak and Write Correctly 1910 to satirize speakers who chose their words to show superiority For instance you may not want to call a spade a spade You may prefer to call it a spatulous device for abrading the surface of the soil Better however to stick to the old familiar simple name that your grandfather called it 8 Oscar Wilde uses the phrase in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray 1890 when the character Lord Henry Wotton remarks It is a sad truth but we have lost the faculty of giving lovely names to things The man who could call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one It is the only thing he is fit for 9 Wilde uses it again in The Importance of Being Earnest 1895 10 Other authors who have used it in their works include Charles Dickens 11 Ralph Waldo Emerson 12 Robert Browning 13 Jonathan Swift 14 and W Somerset Maugham 15 The phrase predates the use of the word spade as an ethnic slur against African Americans 15 which was not recorded until 1928 16 The equivalent expression in Spanish speaking countries is a llamar al pan pan y al vino vino which translates as to call the bread bread and to call the wine wine Italian has a similar expression to the Spanish dire pane al pane e vino al vino literally to say bread to the bread and wine to the wine 17 The equivalent in French speaking countries is appeler un chat un chat which translates as to call a cat a cat 18 History EditThe ultimate source of this idiom is a phrase in Plutarch s Apophthegmata Laconica tὴn skafhn skafhn legontas ten skaphen skaphen legontas 19 The word skafh skaphe means basin or trough 20 Lucian De Hist Conscr 41 has tὰ syka syka tὴn skafhn dὲ skafhn ὀnomaswn ta suka suka ten skaphen de skaphen onomasōn 21 calling a fig a fig and a trough a trough Erasmus translated Plutarch s skafhn skaphe as if from spa8h spathe as ligo shovel in his Apophthegmatum opus Lakshmi Gandhi speculates that the introduction of the word shovel may have been a conscious dramatic choice rather than a mistranslation 15 The phrase was introduced to English in 1542 in Nicolas Udall s translation of Erasmus work Apophthegmes that is to saie prompte saiynges First gathered by Erasmus 15 Philippus aunswered that the Macedonians wer feloes of no fyne witte in their termes but altogether grosse clubbyshe and rusticall as they whiche had not the witte to calle a spade by any other name than a spade In the expression the word spade refers to the instrument used to move earth a very common tool 15 The same word was used in England Scandinavia and in the Netherlands 22 Erasmus country of origin 23 See also EditA rose by any other name would smell as sweet Calling a deer a horse Rectification of names Political correctnessReferences Edit a b Martin Gary Call a spade a spade the meaning and origin of this phrase Phrasefinder a b c d Merriam Webster 2003 Spade To call a spade a spade Merriam Webster s Collegiate Dictionary 11th ed Springfield MA Merriam Webster ISBN 0877798079 Retrieved 29 Oct 2015 a b c d McGraw Hill 2002 Spade To call a spade a spade In Spears Richard ed McGraw Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs New York McGraw Hill Professional ISBN 0071435786 Retrieved 29 Oct 2015 a b c Cambridge University Press 2006 Spade To call a spade a spade Cambridge Idioms Dictionary 2nd ed Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 3125335973 Retrieved 29 Oct 2015 a b Brewer Ebenezer Cobham 1913 Spade To call a spade a spade Brewer s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable New York NY Harper amp Brothers p 853 Retrieved 29 Oct 2015 Wilton Dave 9 Apr 2006 call a spade a spade Word Origins Retrieved 1 Jun 2016 We did not think it hypocritical to draw over our vagaries the curtain of a decent silence The spade was not invariably called a bloody shovel Gowland Angus 2001 Rhetorical Structure and Function in The Anatomy of Melancholy Rhetorica A Journal of the History of Rhetoric 19 1 1 48 doi 10 1525 rh 2001 19 1 1 Devlin Joseph 1910 How to Speak and Write Correctly New York The Christian Herald p 4 Wilde Oscar 10 Dec 2015 The Picture of Dorian Gray Wisehouse Classics p 136 ISBN 978 9176371145 The Importance of Being Earnest A Trivial Comedy for Serious People at Project Gutenberg Dickens Charles 1854 Hard Times London Bradbury amp Evans p 39 Retrieved 17 Apr 2021 Emerson Ralph Waldo Essays First Series 1841 Prudence American Transcendentalism Web Retrieved 17 Apr 2021 Browning Robert 1875 Aristophanes Apology Including a Transcript from Euripides Being The Last Adventure of Balaustion Numero 820 London Smith Elder amp Co p 25 Retrieved 17 Apr 2021 Swift Jonathan 1801 Polite Conversation Dialogue III In Thomas Sheridan John Nichols eds The Works of the Rev Jonathan Swift Volume VIII London Nichols amp Son p 365 Retrieved 17 Apr 2021 a b c d e Gandhi Lakshmi 23 Sep 2013 Code Switch Is It Racist To Call A Spade A Spade NPR Retrieved 29 Oct 2015 Quinion Michael 2004 Port Out Starboard Home And Other Language Myths Penguin Books Ltd pp 60 62 ISBN 0 14 051534 8 Idioms translated across languages and countries Idiomatically Retrieved 2022 06 18 Appeler un chat un chat LawlessFrench com Retrieved 17 April 2021 tῶn dὲ perὶ Las8enhn tὸn Ὀlyn8ion ἐgkaloyntwn kaὶ ἀganaktoyntwn ὅti prodotas aὐtoὺs ἔnioi tῶn perὶ tὸn Filippon ἀpokaloῦsi skaioὺs ἔfh fysei kaὶ ἀgroikoys eἶnai Makedonas kaὶ tὴn skafhn skafhn legontas When the men associated with Lasthenes the Olynthian complained with indignation because some of Philip s associates called them traitors he said that the Macedonians are by nature a rough and rustic people who call a spade a spade Plutarch Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata 26 15 Greek Word Study Tool www perseus tufts edu Lucian Quomodo historia conscribenda sit chapter 41 www perseus tufts edu etymologiebank nl etymologiebank nl desiderius erasmus roterodamus erasmus van rotterdam Rotterdam nl Archived 7 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Call a spade a spade amp oldid 1093746399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
