Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb idiomatic to
speak the truth; to say things as they really are
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
A mistaken translation of Ancient Greek τὰ σῦκα σῦκα, τὴν σκάφην δὲ σκάφην ὀνομάσων ('calling figs figs, and a trough a trough'). The word σκάφη (skaphe, "trough") was mistranslated by the medieval scholar Desiderius Erasmus as σκαφείον (skapheion, "digging tool").
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word call a spade a spade.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.