It means to address or describe the true nature of someone or something, even if it is unpleasant. The term originated from a translation of an ancient Greek phrase, but is considered offensive by some due to the later use of the word "spade" as a racial slur for a black person.
I believe something is lost in translation. The only spades i know are on playing cards or shovels.
What else is a spade?
It's an idiomatic phrase.
It means to address or describe the true nature of someone or something, even if it is unpleasant. The term originated from a translation of an ancient Greek phrase, but is considered offensive by some due to the later use of the word "spade" as a racial slur for a black person.
Spade is a word for blacks? News to me. Or maybe they just decided it was racist recently.
Short for "black as the ace of spades".