call a spade a spade

- 5 dictionary results

spade

1 [speyd]

noun, verb, spad⋅ed, spad⋅ing.

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–noun

1.	a tool for digging, having an iron blade adapted for pressing into the ground with the foot and a long handle commonly with a grip or crosspiece at the top, and with the blade usually narrower and flatter than that of a shovel.

2.	some implement, piece, or part resembling this.

3.	a sharp projection on the bottom of a gun trail, designed to dig into the earth to restrict backward movement of the carriage during recoil.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to dig, cut, or remove with a spade (sometimes fol. by up): Let's spade up the garden and plant some flowers.

—Idioms

5.	call a spade a spade, to call something by its real name; be candidly explicit; speak plainly or bluntly: To call a spade a spade, he's a crook.

in spades, Informal.

a.	in the extreme; positively: He's a hypocrite, in spades.

b.	without restraint; outspokenly: I told him what I thought, in spades.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME (n.); OE spadu; c. D spade, G Spaten, ON spathi spade, Gk spáthē broad, flat piece of wood

Related forms:

spadelike, adjective

spader, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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call (kôl)

v. called, call·ing, calls

v. tr.

To say in a loud voice; announce: called my name from across the street; calling out numbers.
To demand or ask for the presence of: called the children to dinner; call the police.
To demand or ask for a meeting of; convene or convoke: call the legislature into session.
To order or request to undertake a particular activity or work; summon: She was called for jury duty. He was called to the priesthood.
To give the command for; order: call a work stoppage.
1. To communicate or try to communicate with by telephone: called me at nine.
2. To dial (a telephone number): call 911 for help.
3. To demand payment of: call a loan.
4. To require the presentation of (a bond) for redemption before maturity.
5. To force the sale of (a stock or commodity) by exercising a call option.
6. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.
7. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.
8. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.
9. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.
10. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.
11. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.
To lure (prey) by imitating the characteristic cry of an animal: call ducks.
To cause to come to the mind or to attention: a story that calls to mind an incident in my youth.
To name: What will you call the baby?
To consider or regard as being of a particular type or kind; characterize: Let's call the game a draw. I'd hardly call him a good manager.
To designate; label: Nobody calls me a liar.
1. To demand payment of: call a loan.
2. To require the presentation of (a bond) for redemption before maturity.
3. To force the sale of (a stock or commodity) by exercising a call option.
4. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.
5. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.
6. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.
7. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.
8. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.
9. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.
Sports
1. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.
2. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.
3. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.
4. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.
5. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.
6. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.
Games
1. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.
2. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.
To indicate or characterize accurately in advance; predict: It is often difficult to call the outcome of an election. See Synonyms at predict.
To challenge the truthfulness or genuineness of: called the debater on a question of fact.
To shout directions in rhythm for (a square dance).

v. intr.

1. To speak loudly; shout: a swimmer who was calling for help.
2. To utter a characteristic cry. Used of an animal: geese calling in early morning.
To communicate or try to communicate with someone by telephone: I called twice, but no one answered.
To pay a short visit: We called to pay our respects. He called on the neighbors but they weren't home.

A loud cry; a shout.
1. The characteristic cry of an animal.
2. A sound or an instrument made to imitate such a cry, used as a lure: a moose call.
3. A signal, such as that made by a horn or bell.
4. The sounding of a horn to encourage hounds during a hunt.
5. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.
6. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.
7. A decision made by an umpire or referee.
8. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.
9. A demand for payment of a debt.
10. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.
11. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.
12. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.
A telephone communication or connection.
Need or occasion: There was no call for an apology.
Demand: There isn't much call for buggy whips today.
A claim on a person's time or life: the call of duty.
A short visit, especially one made as a formality or for business or professional purposes.
A summons or invitation.
1. A signal, such as that made by a horn or bell.
2. The sounding of a horn to encourage hounds during a hunt.
3. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.
4. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.
5. A decision made by an umpire or referee.
6. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.
7. A demand for payment of a debt.
8. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.
9. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.
10. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.
1. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.
2. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.
3. A decision made by an umpire or referee.
4. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.
5. A demand for payment of a debt.
6. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.
7. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.
8. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.
A roll call.
A notice of rehearsal times posted in a theater.
Sports
1. A decision made by an umpire or referee.
2. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.
3. A demand for payment of a debt.
4. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.
5. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.
6. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.
A direction or series of directions rhythmically called out to square dancers.
1. A demand for payment of a debt.
2. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.
3. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.
4. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.
To communicate the need for (someone) to return from one situation or location to a previous one: Management called the laid-off workers back.
To telephone or radio (a person) who has called previously: I called her back at noon.
To recall (a defective product) for repair: The company has called back all such models built in 1990.
To find fault with; reprimand: The teacher called me down for disobedience.
To invoke, as from heaven.
To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get: My chauffeur will call for you at seven.
To be an appropriate occasion for: This news calls for champagne.
To require; demand: work that calls for patience.
To take out of circulation: calling in silver dollars.
To summon for assistance or consultation: call in a specialist.
To communicate with another by telephone: Has the boss called in today?
To cancel or postpone: call off a trip; called the trip off.
To restrain or recall: Call off your dogs.
To cause to assemble; summon: call out the guard.
To challenge to a duel.
To summon to active military service: called up reserve troops for active duty.
To cause one to remember; bring to mind: stories that call up old times.
To bring forth for action or discussion; raise.
To order; require: I call upon you to tell the truth.
To make a demand or a series of demands on: Social institutions are now being called upon to provide assistance to the homeless.

Phrasal Verb(s):
call back

To communicate the need for (someone) to return from one situation or location to a previous one: Management called the laid-off workers back.
To telephone or radio (a person) who has called previously: I called her back at noon.
To recall (a defective product) for repair: The company has called back all such models built in 1990.

call down

To find fault with; reprimand: The teacher called me down for disobedience.
To invoke, as from heaven.

call for

To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get: My chauffeur will call for you at seven.
To be an appropriate occasion for: This news calls for champagne.
To require; demand: work that calls for patience.

call forthTo evoke; elicit: a love song that calls forth sad memories.
call in

To take out of circulation: calling in silver dollars.
To summon for assistance or consultation: call in a specialist.
To communicate with another by telephone: Has the boss called in today?

call off

To cancel or postpone: call off a trip; called the trip off.
To restrain or recall: Call off your dogs.

call onTo order or request to undertake a particular activity: called on our friends to help.
call out

To cause to assemble; summon: call out the guard.
To challenge to a duel.

call up

To summon to active military service: called up reserve troops for active duty.
To cause one to remember; bring to mind: stories that call up old times.
To bring forth for action or discussion; raise.

call upon

To order; require: I call upon you to tell the truth.
To make a demand or a series of demands on: Social institutions are now being called upon to provide assistance to the homeless.

Idiom(s):
call a spade a spadeTo speak directly, precisely, and forthrightly.

Idiom(s):
call in/into questionTo raise doubts about.

Idiom(s):
call it a day Informal To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the day or at least for the present.

Idiom(s):
call it a night Informal To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the night.

Idiom(s):
call it quits Informal To stop working or trying; quit.

Idiom(s):
call namesTo speak to or about another in offensive terms.

Idiom(s):
call of natureA need to urinate or defecate. Often used with answer: He left the room to answer the call of nature.

Idiom(s):
call (someone's) bluffTo challenge another with a display of strength or confidence.

Idiom(s):
call the shots/tune Informal To exercise authority; be in charge.

Idiom(s):
on call

Available when summoned for service or use: physicians who were on call for 48 hours.
Subject to payment on demand.

Idiom(s):
within callClose enough to come if summoned: The nurse is within call if you need him.

[Middle English callen, probably from Old Norse kalla; see gal- in Indo-European roots.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to demand or request to appear, come, or assemble: called a taxi; convened a meeting; will convoke the legislature; mustering the militia; summoned a witness.

Our Living Language : African American Vernacular English (AAVE) uses call oneself with a present participle, as in They call themselves dancing, to express the idea that the people being talked about are not very good at what they're doing (in this example, dancing), even though they may think they are. This construction has a structure and meaning similar to the Standard English use of call oneself with a noun phrase or adjective, as in She calls herself intelligent or He calls himself a dancer.

Cultural Dictionary

call a spade a spade

To speak directly and bluntly; to avoid euphemism: “The prosecutor said, ‘Let's call a spade a spade. You didn't borrow the money, you stole it.’”

Word Origin & History

spade (1)

"tool for digging," O.E. spadu, from P.Gmc. *spadon (cf. O.Fris. spada, M.Du. spade, O.S. spado, M.L.G. spade, Ger. Spaten), from PIE *spe- "long, flat piece of wood" (cf. Gk. spathe "wooden blade, paddle," O.E. spon "chip of wood, splinter," O.N. spann "shingle, chip"). To call a spade a spade "use blunt language" (1542) translates a Gk. proverb (known to the Romans), but Erasmus mistook Gk. skaphe "trough, bowl" for a derivative of the stem of skaptein "to dig," and the mistake has stuck. The original, then, is "to call a bowl a bowl."

Idioms & Phrases

call a spade a spade

Speak frankly and bluntly, be explicit, as in You can always trust Mary to call a spade a spade. This term comes from a Greek saying, call a bowl a bowl, that was mistranslated into Latin by Erasmus and came into English in the 1500s. Also see tell it like it is.

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