TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

call a spade a spade [1 record]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2011-05-09

English

Subject field(s)
  • Idiomatic Expressions
OBS

[literal French translation:] Appeler une pelle une pelle.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Expressions idiomatiques
DEF

Appeler les choses par leur nom, être franc et direct dans sa manière de parler.

OBS

Boileau a définitivement fixé la forme de cette expression dans un vers célèbre, tiré de la première satire : «J'appelle un chat un chat et Rollet un fripon».

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Expresiones idiomáticas
OBS

[traduction littérale française :] Appeler le pain, pain, et le vin, vin.

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