call a spade a shovel en · VERB
Etymology
From call a spade a spade.
Meanings
- To put it more than bluntly; to express a truth forcefully; to use exaggerated language to make a statement of fact.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| calling a spade a shovel | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| calls a spade a shovel | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| called a spade a shovel | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| called a spade a shovel | Tense=Past | lexicographic |