Spade
noun
A tool with a flat, sharp-ended blade and a long handle, used for digging.
She used a spade to dig the garden.
Often appears as...
- dig with a spade
- spade in the ground
noun
One of the black symbols in a deck of cards, shaped like a pointed leaf.
The king of spades is the highest card.
Often appears as...
- ace of spades
- king of spades
verb
To dig soil with a spade.
He is spading the garden to prepare it for planting.
Often appears as...
- spade the soil
- spade the ground
idiom
To speak directly and honestly, even if the truth is unpleasant.
I like John because he always calls a spade a spade.
Often appears as...
- call a spade a spade
- she calls a spade a spade
Usage tips
Approving
Colloquial
noun
A tool with a flat, sharp-ended blade and a long handle, used for digging.
She used a spade to dig the garden.
Often appears as...
- dig with a spade
- spade in the ground
noun
One of the black symbols in a deck of cards, shaped like a pointed leaf.
The king of spades is the highest card.
Often appears as...
- ace of spades
- king of spades
verb
To dig soil with a spade.
He is spading the garden to prepare it for planting.
Often appears as...
- spade the soil
- spade the ground
idiom
To speak directly and honestly, even if the truth is unpleasant.
I like John because he always calls a spade a spade.
Often appears as...
- call a spade a spade
- she calls a spade a spade
Usage tips
Approving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Gardening Context
The term 'spade' is often used in gardening or farming contexts to refer to digging tools.
He grabbed a spade to turn over the soil.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Activity
'Spade' implies physical effort; it's used when someone is doing manual labor.
We need strong volunteers to spade the new flowerbeds.
Pro Tip 3/3Shape Specific
A spade has a specific shape; it's different from a general shovel due to its sharp, flat end.
Use a spade for the edges, not a rounded shovel.
Pro Tip 1/3Gardening Context
The term 'spade' is often used in gardening or farming contexts to refer to digging tools.
He grabbed a spade to turn over the soil.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Activity
'Spade' implies physical effort; it's used when someone is doing manual labor.
We need strong volunteers to spade the new flowerbeds.
Pro Tip 3/3Shape Specific
A spade has a specific shape; it's different from a general shovel due to its sharp, flat end.
Use a spade for the edges, not a rounded shovel.
Pro Tip 1/3Gardening Context
The term 'spade' is often used in gardening or farming contexts to refer to digging tools.
He grabbed a spade to turn over the soil.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Activity
'Spade' implies physical effort; it's used when someone is doing manual labor.
We need strong volunteers to spade the new flowerbeds.
Pro Tip 3/3Shape Specific
A spade has a specific shape; it's different from a general shovel due to its sharp, flat end.
Use a spade for the edges, not a rounded shovel.
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Video examples
Surveillance on and off...
the idea of autonomy the idea that no one is looking over your shoulder no one is monitoring you right you you do work in the way that you see fit now as we all know the open road isn't actually all that open when you really look at it there are lots of rules on the road and truckers deal with rules and spades much
Video examples
Why we make bad...
there are six sides to a die, two sides to a coin, 52 cards in a deck. You all know what the likelihood is of pulling the ace of spades or of flipping a heads. But as it turns out, this is not a very easy idea to apply in everyday life. That's why Americans spend more -- I should say, lose more -- gambling
Video examples
Brain Magic - The Memory...
cards go on top of it and pretending like I'm memorizing like like this you see this is it no no raising face okay so yeah good yeah okay so all I care about is this nine of spades on top I don't tell them this obviously then I'm gonna start spreading the cards myself as I ask for help so I
Video examples
Brain magic PIPE Keith Barry
Your name is? Nicole. Nicole, and? Actually, here's the thing, answer it, answer it, answer it. Is it a girl? They've already gone. OK, swap over positions. Can you stand over here? This will make it easier. Pity, I would have told them it was the ace of spades.
Video examples
Best Of Frogs PIPE Top 5 PIPE...
salamanders hunt for invertebrate prey throughout the night with its striking yellow and red markings this is a rare subspecies found only here it will also hide up during the day as to will the spade foot toad
Video examples
A day in the life of a...
And that’s not counting his backpack, or sarcina, which contains food and all the tools he needs to help build the camp – spade, saw, pickaxe, and basket.
Video examples
Helder Guimarães: A...
The tension was building. "11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17." And on the 17, instead of the king of spades,
Video examples
Feeding Baby Orphaned...
year care ow and they return that love in spades even to a visitor like me
Video examples
Adorable Baby Animal...
year care and they return that love in spades even to a visitor like me
Video examples
Close-up card magic with...
seven, eight -- ah -- nine, 10, the jack, jack of spades, queen of --
Video examples
Surveillance on and off...
the idea of autonomy the idea that no one is looking over your shoulder no one is monitoring you right you you do work in the way that you see fit now as we all know the open road isn't actually all that open when you really look at it there are lots of rules on the road and truckers deal with rules and spades much
Video examples
Why we make bad...
there are six sides to a die, two sides to a coin, 52 cards in a deck. You all know what the likelihood is of pulling the ace of spades or of flipping a heads. But as it turns out, this is not a very easy idea to apply in everyday life. That's why Americans spend more -- I should say, lose more -- gambling
Video examples
Brain Magic - The Memory...
cards go on top of it and pretending like I'm memorizing like like this you see this is it no no raising face okay so yeah good yeah okay so all I care about is this nine of spades on top I don't tell them this obviously then I'm gonna start spreading the cards myself as I ask for help so I
Video examples
Brain magic PIPE Keith Barry
Your name is? Nicole. Nicole, and? Actually, here's the thing, answer it, answer it, answer it. Is it a girl? They've already gone. OK, swap over positions. Can you stand over here? This will make it easier. Pity, I would have told them it was the ace of spades.
Video examples
Best Of Frogs PIPE Top 5 PIPE...
salamanders hunt for invertebrate prey throughout the night with its striking yellow and red markings this is a rare subspecies found only here it will also hide up during the day as to will the spade foot toad
Video examples
A day in the life of a...
And that’s not counting his backpack, or sarcina, which contains food and all the tools he needs to help build the camp – spade, saw, pickaxe, and basket.
Video examples
Helder Guimarães: A...
The tension was building. "11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17." And on the 17, instead of the king of spades,
Video examples
Feeding Baby Orphaned...
year care ow and they return that love in spades even to a visitor like me
Video examples
Adorable Baby Animal...
year care and they return that love in spades even to a visitor like me
Video examples
Close-up card magic with...
seven, eight -- ah -- nine, 10, the jack, jack of spades, queen of --
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jean Piaget
Swiss Psychologist
The child often sees only what he already knows. He projects the whole of his verbal thought into things. He sees mountains as built by men, rivers as dug out with spades, the sun and moon as following us on our walks.
Quote examples
Ethel Waters
American Musician
The white audiences thought I was white, my features being what they are, and at every performance I'd have to take off my gloves to prove I was a spade.
Quote examples
Gertrude Jekyll
British Celebrity
It is no use asking me or anyone else how to dig... Better to go and watch a man digging, and then take a spade and try to do it.
Quote examples
Diana Gabaldon
American Author
Conflict and character are the heart of good fiction, and good mystery has both of those in spades.
Quote examples
John McDonnell
British Politician
I call a spade a shovel, straightforward. If I disagree with someone, I tell them.
Quote examples
Sophie Rundle
English Actress
Loyalty, support, and 'the sisterhood' are there in spades in 'Jamestown.
Quote examples
Dante Basco
American Actor
Everything you want Robin Williams to be, he delivered in spades.
Quote examples
James Stephens
Irish Poet
A sword, a spade, and a thought should never be allowed to rust.
Quote examples
Marc Andreessen
American Businessman
I don't like to not call a spade a spade.
Quote examples
Lee Zeldin
American Politician
I call a spade a spade.
Quote examples
Jean Piaget
Swiss Psychologist
The child often sees only what he already knows. He projects the whole of his verbal thought into things. He sees mountains as built by men, rivers as dug out with spades, the sun and moon as following us on our walks.
Quote examples
Ethel Waters
American Musician
The white audiences thought I was white, my features being what they are, and at every performance I'd have to take off my gloves to prove I was a spade.
Quote examples
Gertrude Jekyll
British Celebrity
It is no use asking me or anyone else how to dig... Better to go and watch a man digging, and then take a spade and try to do it.
Quote examples
Diana Gabaldon
American Author
Conflict and character are the heart of good fiction, and good mystery has both of those in spades.
Quote examples
John McDonnell
British Politician
I call a spade a shovel, straightforward. If I disagree with someone, I tell them.
Quote examples
Sophie Rundle
English Actress
Loyalty, support, and 'the sisterhood' are there in spades in 'Jamestown.
Quote examples
Dante Basco
American Actor
Everything you want Robin Williams to be, he delivered in spades.
Quote examples
James Stephens
Irish Poet
A sword, a spade, and a thought should never be allowed to rust.
Quote examples
Marc Andreessen
American Businessman
I don't like to not call a spade a spade.
Quote examples
Lee Zeldin
American Politician
I call a spade a spade.
Example 1 of 10
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