'call a spade a spade': an equivalent idiom? (AE)

swim4life

Senior Member
Chinese, China
Hi,

I was communicating with one of my American friends via email, and I used the phase “call a spade a spade.” He replied as follows:

I love your Americanisms... "call a spade a spade"....... a great phrase that every American can understand... but it has some racial connections you may want to stay away from...... People of color (Black) used to be called Spades in 1950s America - not a politically correct term today!
So do you Americans have a safer way to say "call a spade a spade"? Preferably a phrase. Thanks!
 
  • From wikipedia:
    The Oxford English Dictionary records a more forceful variant, "to call a spade a bloody shovel", attested since 1919.

    The phrase predates the use of the word "spade" as an ethnic slur against African-Americans, which was not recorded until 1928; however, in contemporary U.S. society, the idiom is often avoided due to potential confusion with the slur.

    Call'em as you see'em.
    Don't mince words.
    Cut the bull! Speak plainly.
    Call it what it is!
     
    Hi,

    I was communicating with one of my American friends via email, and I used the phase “call a spade a spade.” He replied as follows:

    I love your Americanisms... "call a spade a spade"....... a great phrase that every American can understand... but it has some racial connections you may want to stay away from...... People of color (Black) used to be called Spades in 1950s America - not a politically correct term today!

    So do you Americans have a safer way to say "call a spade a spade"? Preferably a phrase. Thanks!

    I personally have never connected the two nor have I ever heard or seen anyone else do so. Now I, of course, have to allow that that particular idiom isn't as common as 'is' or 'he' or a lot of other words but I would have no hesitation using it.
     
    Even though at their origin, the two have no historical connection, I prefer to use an alternative, like the ones AlabamaBoy suggests.

    There are many people like your friend, who believe the spade in the idiom is a reference to black people. And, in fact, at times "call a spade a spade" has been used as a reference to black people, no matter its original use.

    If you use the phrase, people who don't know the history may misunderstand it and you won't necessarily have the opportunity to explain. I'm not talking about violence, and so on, I mean you may unintentionally hurt someone's feelings, or give an impression that you don't want to give.

    That is why I personally prefer not to use it. I am not making a rule for the rest of the world.
     
    "Tell it like it is" is a close equivalent to "call a spade a spade."

    Although the "spade" of this expression has nothing to do with the racial slur, I agree with your friend that many Americans would hesitate to use it because anything that touches on - or even seems to touch on - race is extremely sensitive in the USA. I also agree with wonderwhy that there is no real reason to avoid it if you are sure that it will be understood as you mean it to be, but nevertheless many people would do so.
     
    Pehapse you should use something like "Say it how it is" or "call it how you see it"
    That said, in Australia and i assume other english speaking nations "call a spade a spade" is perfectly acceptable.
     
    "Call a spade a spade" just means that you speak plainly. It does not have a racist connotation, as other posters have pointed out. Many Americans do have a problem with the phrase because "spade" is used as a pejorative.

    How about:
    I call 'em as I see 'em (what the baseball umpire says when players protest a call)
    I tell it like it is
    If it quacks like a duck, then it's a duck
    It's as plain as the nose on your face
    It's as plain as day
    It is what it is
     
    interesting avatar, JJ. that alone reminded me of a 'discussion' i had many years ago (late '70s). i grew up in S. Texas, and never thought of the 'call a spade a spade' anything other than a reference to a deck of cards. However, on one occasion one of my texas brethren did come back with a slur which might suggest some may take it racially. I don't recall what we were discussing at the time. But, lets just he was selling something and I had a disagreement over how it was described vs. how it was presented. i'll censor it. but, i'm sure ya'll can get the gist. hopefully, this isn't in too poor of taste for the forum. it's all in the name of answering the original question:

    I said something like "just call a spade a spade"
    and, the reply was "yeah...i'll call a spade a spade, just don't call a ****** a shovel."

    so, while completely inappropriate, does add something (aside from racism) to the idiom. in other words, you can call 'em like you see 'em. just make sure you're seeing what you're calling...or something like that.

    "Call a spade a spade" just means that you speak plainly. It does not have a racist connotation, as other posters have pointed out. Many Americans do have a problem with the phrase because "spade" is used as a pejorative.

    How about:
    I call 'em as I see 'em (what the baseball umpire says when players protest a call)
    I tell it like it is
    If it quacks like a duck, then it's a duck
    It's as plain as the nose on your face
    It's as plain as day
    It is what it is
     
    I haven't thought of a perfect equivalent, but to my ear, "tell it like it is" and "call it like you see it" don't feel right. When you say "let's call a spade a spade" it's accusatory - it means "let's not be hypocritical or euphemistic - let's speak the straight unvarnished truth". "Tell it like it is" is encourages the speaker to continue speaking truthfully. "Call 'em as I see 'em" is defensive - the umpire is defending himself and asserting that he is in fact telling the truth - but it's hard truth - ball or strike, out or safe - there's no possibility for sugar-coating it - it is or it isn't. Also suggested is "don't mince words" and that gets the meaning exactly right, but nothing sounds as good as "call a spade a spade" - it's just a great idiomatic expression.

    As for the racist aspect, sadly, I fear that it's likely to be taken as racist (that fear led me to this site), even though I always heard "spade" as a term used by blacks, affectionately, like "a brother". < ----- >


    < ----- > Introduced a new topic. Cagey, moderator.
     
    Last edited by a moderator:
    I haven't thought of a perfect equivalent, but to my ear, "tell it like it is" and "call it like you see it" don't feel right. When you say "let's call a spade a spade" it's accusatory - it means "let's not be hypocritical or euphemistic - let's speak the straight unvarnished truth".
    It's accusatory only if you word it that way, as a comeuppance. If you say "I like Bill because he always calls a spade a spade," it's complimentary.
    "Tell it like it is" is encourages the speaker to continue speaking truthfully.
    Not really ... there's no connotation of continuing to speak. "I like Bill because he tells it like it is."
    "Call 'em as I see 'em" is defensive - the umpire is defending himself and asserting that he is in fact telling the truth - but it's hard truth - ball or strike, out or safe - there's no possibility for sugar-coating it - it is or it isn't.
    You're simply making it defensive (note that "I'm calling it as I see it here"). Again, "I like Bill because he calls it as he sees it."
    Also suggested is "don't mince words" and that gets the meaning exactly right, but nothing sounds as good as "call a spade a spade" - it's just a great idiomatic expression.
    Now it's time to qualify – nothing sounds as good to you.
    I always heard "spade" as a term used by blacks, affectionately, like "a brother".
    Then you've lived in a cheerful society with no racial animosity. :)
     
    It isn't an Americanism. See this (from http://www.phrases.org.uk/).

    However, in the UK it is now considered derogatory (i.e. a reference to a black person). It has actually become a sort of joke: people say 'You can't call a spade a spade any more'.

    Edit. I had always assumed this came from the expression 'as black as the Ace of Spades'. I was probably wrong.
     
    Last edited:
    I had always assumed this came from the expression 'as black as the Ace of Spades'. I was probably wrong.
    No, you are probably right. OED
    spade, n.2

    1.
    a. One or other of the black spade-shaped marks by which one of the four suits in a pack of playing-cards is distinguished; hence pl., the cards belonging to or forming this suit.
    .......
    3.
    a. slang (orig. U.S.) depreciative and offensive. As a term of contempt or casual reference among white people: a black person, esp. a black man. Formerly (among African Americans): a very dark-skinned black person.
    No connection with
    spade, n.1 - A tool for digging.
    spade, n.3 - The gummy or wax-like matter secreted at the corner of the eye
    spade, n.4 - A eunuch

    I have no hesitation whatsoever in using "He calls a spade a spade" with its original meaning of "He's a plain-speaking man". But then, I don't call black men "spades".
     
    Regardless of what the OED might opine, or what others might have learned, my early schooling (long before the forces of political correctness took over) always compared "spade" with "digging implement.":)
     
    sdg
    1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem vi. 56 She was of the complexion known among Negroes as spade or chocolate-to-the-bone.
    That seems to have no connection with digging. However, if a word that means "black-skinned person" is identical in form to a word meaning "a tool for digging", it's no surprise if the two become confused despite their differing etymologies - Old English for the shovel, Italian for the playing card and skin colour.
     
    I have no hesitation whatsoever in using "He calls a spade a spade" with its original meaning of "He's a plain-speaking man". But then, I don't call black men "spades".
    I've said it many a time, without it calling to mind a black person, a garden tool or anything in particular: it was just an expression to me. I don't call black people "spades" either, but I can't now see myself using the expression in a black person's presence.
     
    I wonder how many English-speaking people living today can remember when "spade" referred to a black person. It's pretty archaic, as slang goes.
    And isn't it ironic that calling a person a "spade" is the very opposite of the plain talk denoted by "call a spade a spade"!
    "Say what you mean!"
     
    speaks of playing-card suit etymology and opines that the "spade" suit comes from the Spanish espada (sword), which is still the name of the card suit today in Spanish.
    I gave you the short version
    Etymology: < Italian spade, plural of spada (Spanish espada , Portuguese espada ) sword (see spado n.2), used as a mark on playing-cards. Compare German spadi from the same source.
    In British and other cards ultimately of French origin the mark has a form resembling that of a pointed spade, so that there is a natural association with spade n.1 Compare German dialect spaten, Danish and Swedish spader (plural).
    I'll also now pass. :)
     
    If you want to be safe, I vote for the above-mentioned (more than once) "[to] tell it like it is." I think "to be a straight talker" and "to talk straight from the shoulder" could also work.
     
    The bottom line: The AE answer to the original question is, despite the fact that it's not proper grammar:
    Tell it like it is.


    Cross-posted with ATF.
     
    In The importance of being Earnest (1895), the following dialogue occurs:

    Cecily. This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade.
    Gwendolen. [Satirically.] I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different.

    It's obvious that they're talking about digging instruments - every well-brought-up young lady would be familiar with playing cards.
     
    @swim4life Re your OP: Note that "person of color" refers to any non-White (people of African, Hispanic & Asian ethnicity and First Americans, and of mixed race). For instance, our current President, whose father is Black and mother, White is a "person of color".
     
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