spade
(speɪd )
Word forms: spades
1. countable noun
A spade is a tool used for digging, with a flat metal blade and a long handle.
... a garden spade.
The girls happily played in the sand with buckets and spades.
2. uncountable noun [with singular or plural verb]
Spades is one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards. Each card in the suit is marked with one or more black symbols: ♠.
...the ace of spades.
A spade is a playing card of this suit.
3. to call a spade a spade phrase
If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak clearly and directly about things, even embarrassing or unpleasant things. [approval]
I'm not at all secretive, and I'm pretty good at calling a spade a spade.
Image of spade
© prapann, Shutterstock
Idioms:
call a spade a spade
to speak honestly and directly about something, especially if it is controversial or embarrassing, rather than being careful about what you say
I'm not at all secretive, and I'm not afraid to call a spade a spade.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 铁锹
Japanese: 鋤
- be no slouch
- be nothing to write home about
- be no use
- bent
- bent
- bent double
- benzene
- be of assistance
- be off one's head
- be off your food
- be of help
- be of use
- be of use/be no use
- be on a fishing expedition
- be on a hiding to nothing
- be on a roll
- be on a short fuse
- be on a sticky wicket
- be on borrowed time
- be one for
- be one for/be a one for
- be one's life
- be one's own boss
- be one's own master
- be one thing