call a spade a spade
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I mean, call a spade a spade: Bron is on his last couple of years — however many years he decides to play,” Austin Reaves said.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2025
If we call a spade a spade and a cancellation a cancellation, then both logic and Massachusetts law — Vantage is Boston-based — indicate that you should get your money back.
From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2022
“Why hasn’t it happened? Let’s call a spade a spade: They’re not looking,” Anderson said.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 11, 2022
He said the prime minister had "began to call a spade a spade" and emphasised the seriousness of the war with Russia to the international community.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2022
To them I am only Adah or, to my sisters sometimes, the drear monosyllabic Ade, lemonade, Band-Aid, frayed blockade, switchblade renegade, call a spade a spade.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
