Literal translation
“Let’s call a cat a cat”
English equivalence
“Let’s call a spade a spade!”
Listen to the pronunciation
Listen to the pronunciation
Explanation / Comment
Why call a cat by a different name?
That’s the point!
Don’t be shy: use this idiom to prompt you to be direct, to speak frankly.
Sometimes it’s better to tell it like it is rather than beating about the bush.
Example
π«π· “Appelons un chat un chat : cet homme est insupportable !”
π¬π§ “Let’s call a spade a spade: this man is unbearable!“
Example
π«π· “Appelons un chat un chat : cet homme est insupportable !”
π¬π§ “Let’s call a spade a spade: this man is unbearable!“
About the author: Anthony Lucas
Hi there! I’ve been a French teacher since 2007. I have taught French as a foreign language to hundreds of students from all over the world in Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong and France.
β I now teach French online and develop the website OnlineFrenchTeacher.com.