Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2007 4:17:18 GMT -5
What, in your mind, does the term "spade" mean in the phrase, "Let's call a spade a spade"?
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Longshot! [ Saint ]
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Jack's Complete Lack of Surprise
I'm the Broken One who Fixes It
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Post by Longshot! [ Saint ] on Apr 13, 2007 7:49:37 GMT -5
Easy. It's what Grandpa Zug used to call 'Darkies'.
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ScarlettP
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Cookie Fairy
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Post by ScarlettP on Apr 13, 2007 8:07:33 GMT -5
Cards & Shovels. I garden more than I play cards, but I consider "Call a Spade a Spade" to refer to a card game. Not people.
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halk3
Full Member
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Post by halk3 on Apr 13, 2007 8:50:03 GMT -5
Ethnic or a drill bit. Probably more related to when you grew up. I graduated from high school in the mid 60s. I usually heard spade used in an ethnic way or to refer to a drill bit, later I heard other uses like a card face or a garden tool
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joedog
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Post by joedog on Apr 13, 2007 10:28:08 GMT -5
I voted other.... Its that flat bit on the end of a Jack-hammer
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Copperhead
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Post by Copperhead on Apr 13, 2007 11:08:46 GMT -5
always & only, cards & shovels.
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Post by erinslion on Apr 13, 2007 11:26:10 GMT -5
Well, if we are to use the example given us by Irish playwright Oscar Wilde then original meaning of "spade" in the phrase "Call a spade a spade" is "shovel." The Wilde quote (as far as I can remember) is something like, "The man who calls a spade a spade should be compelled to use one..." (it was a commentary on uncreative use of language I think...)
As far as the racial overtones of the word/phrase I have to believe that it came much later and refers to the fact that the card suit "spade" is black. In fact I have heard more than once in my life the phrase, "As black as the ace of spades..."
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Post by erinslion on Apr 13, 2007 11:27:00 GMT -5
Btw, an actor? I don't get that at all...
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Post by gridbug on Apr 13, 2007 11:47:40 GMT -5
I uses my spade to dig hos!
> Btw, an actor? I don't get that at all...
As in David
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Post by one on Apr 13, 2007 12:39:49 GMT -5
As in all things relative, one will perceive it as they want it to be. So it means whatever you want it to mean..... whether you know it or not.
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Milk
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Post by Milk on Apr 13, 2007 23:14:55 GMT -5
I uses my spade to dig hos! > Btw, an actor? I don't get that at all... As in David Or James Spader...
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Post by Justin Thyme on Apr 13, 2007 23:49:10 GMT -5
There was this construction site next to a Catholic school and the laborers were digging the footing for the foundation. Colorful language was filling the air and the head sister had had her fill. She went next door to speak to the construction superintendent about his worker's language.
"Sister," he said, "I'll speak to my men about their language. I hope that you will understand , though, that in spite of their rough talk they are really good men. It's just that in this line of work they tend to call a spade a spade."
"They did not," replied the good Sister, "They called it a fucking shovel."
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joedog
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Post by joedog on Apr 14, 2007 11:58:04 GMT -5
There was this construction site next to a Catholic school and the laborers were digging the footing for the foundation. Colorful language was filling the air and the head sister had had her fill. She went next door to speak to the construction superintendent about his worker's language. "Sister," he said, "I'll speak to my men about their language. I hope that you will understand , though, that in spite of their rough talk they are really good men. It's just that in this line of work they tend to call a spade a spade." "They did not," replied the good Sister, "They called it a fucking shovel." Yet another good use for the Rolling guy
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