[Bill23273]

I found this explanation on a site at http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorc.htm…… Call a Spade a Spade………. Several people have emailed me and questioned whether or not the phrase call a spade a spade is racist in origin. It is not. Spade is a derogatory term for a black person, but that is not the spade referred to in the phrase in question. The phrase dates to at least 1542 and the spade in question is a shovel. The phrase simply means to speak directly, without euphemism. The British phrase to ‘call a spade a bloody shovel’ is derived from this, not vice versa. This British phrase means the same, only it is more forceful. The racist usage of spade dates from the 1920s and is American in origin. It probably derives from the card suit, as in black as the ace of spades. Even though ‘call a spade a spade’ is not racist in origin, it is probably best to avoid using it in situations where it could be misinterpreted. In fact, since it is so hackneyed it is probably best to avoid using it altogether. But that is a stylistic and not a racial reason.

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Name : Bill23273, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 45, City : Burlington, State : VT, Country : United States, Occupation : Analyst, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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