"call a spade a spade"

[Barbara Need]

On 17 Jun 2008, at 20:54, Benjamin Barrett wrote:

> What exactly does the racial connotation term mean? From this thread,
> it appears to be the most common meaning in US English, but I'm not
> sure what it would mean or how it could be used that way. I'm familiar
> only with the meaning of not using euphemisms or circumlocutions for
> something bad. BB

I am familiar enough with the meaning of _spade_ as African-American
that I knew what the original poster was referring to. But I think
the only place I ever saw it used was in the book _M*A*S*H_, in
reference to Spearchucker Jones. I have absolutely no sense of it as
derogatory, but I acknowledge being pretty dense in that area.

Barbara

Barbara Need
Chicago

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