spade
spade /sp'eɪd/ (spades)
1 [N-COUNT]
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 [N-UNCOUNT-COLL]
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.
[N-COUNT]
A spade is a playing card of this suit.
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
I'm not at all secretive, and I'm pretty good at calling a spade a spade.
1 [N-COUNT]
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 [N-UNCOUNT-COLL]
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.
[N-COUNT]
A spade is a playing card of this suit.
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
I'm not at all secretive, and I'm pretty good at calling a spade a spade.