i actually thought that calling a spade a spade was telling the truth - calling a spade a shovel is (i thought)eg you run into someone you havent seen for a while and instread of saying "hello how are you - you look a little tired" you say "hello, how are you - oh my god - what have you done to yourself you look like you've aged a 100 years" - i think it has a slightly different to the truth - ie more "brutal" somehow
Now that's what i call "calling a spade a shovel" - but your poinbt is well made anonsi - a spade is a spade and a shovel is a shovel - one is for gardening (the one with the pointy end) and the other is for eg shovelling manure out of a horse's stable.
Poll