0
Zoey Woolf Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
Spade
To call a spade a spade: if I use this expression in a informal situation,am I being impolite?
Top answer
Very possibly. Some people may be offended by this. Others, who do not know its origin, may not be.
- Very possibly.
- Some people may be offended by this.
- Others, who do not know its origin, may not be.
- In case you are unaware, "spade" used to be a derogatory term for a person with dark skin.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
11 Answers
0
Very possibly. Some people may be offended by this. Others, who do not know its origin, may not be. In case you are unaware, "spade" used to be a derogatory term for a person with dark skin.
00
You serious?
I didn't know that,and that is why I wanted to check in the first place because I heard that once on Lie to me where they sometimes employ umpolite language like 'sod off'.
Strange enough,my dictionary didn't mention it as offensive
I didn't know that,and that is why I wanted to check in the first place because I heard that once on Lie to me where they sometimes employ umpolite language like 'sod off'.
Strange enough,my dictionary didn't mention it as offensive
00
Zoey my friend,
I've done a little more research since my original answer here. My answer was somewhat wrong; let me explain.
The expression "call a spade a spade", or at least something very much like it, first appeared in 1542. The first use of "spade" as a derogatory synonym for "African American" appears to have been in 1928, and is related to the colour of the playing card symbol
I've done a little more research since my original answer here. My answer was somewhat wrong; let me explain.
The expression "call a spade a spade", or at least something very much like it, first appeared in 1542. The first use of "spade" as a derogatory synonym for "African American" appears to have been in 1928, and is related to the colour of the playing card symbol
00
David,
as always your help has turned out to be of great value and importance.
In fact, I don't think I would have found such an accuracy on the web!
Last question: is it correct to say - I would have found- to mean the remote possibility in the future?
as always your help has turned out to be of great value and importance.
In fact, I don't think I would have found such an accuracy on the web!
Last question: is it correct to say - I would have found- to mean the remote possibility in the future?
00
Zoey, my friend,
About your last question - I'm not sure. Can you give me an example of a sentence using "I would have found" in the way you suggest? I will let you know whether it sounds OK to me.
Warmest regards,
David.
About your last question - I'm not sure. Can you give me an example of a sentence using "I would have found" in the way you suggest? I will let you know whether it sounds OK to me.
Warmest regards,
David.
00
I don't think I would have found such an answer..
That is what I was talikng about remote possibility
That is what I was talikng about remote possibility
00
Perhaps usage varies by region. Where I live, in Canada, I don't think the expression would be considered offensive at all.
I never hear the word 'spade' used in the derogatory and racial sense, either.
Clive
I never hear the word 'spade' used in the derogatory and racial sense, either.
Clive
00
ClivePerhaps usage varies by region. Where I live, in Canada, I don't think the expression would be considered offensive at all.I never hear the word 'spade' used in the derogatory and racial sense, either.CliveIt could be,who knows?
So,I may use it with my friends like - Guys,let's call a spade a spade: he is totally into me-
Sorry about the childish
00
0
"Spade" was very common as a derogatory term in New England in the forties and fifties. But at that time "white people" were still dressing up with black faces and putting on amateur "minstrel shows" in small towns --- even into the early sixties! There were stock published scripts available with comedy routines using these derogatory terms. Songs were still being sung around the piano using the
0
Related Questions