questions to which I cannot find an answer (1201 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 0.42 on 11 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <moneypennyshome.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2003-08-08 09:34:39 EDT
I was lying in bed earlier this week unable to get to sleep due to the heat and the shock of it actually being above 30 degrees for more than 2 days in an English summer time, and a couple of questions came into my mind which I have been unable to find out any answers to...
is the quote "he calls a spade a spade" considered a racist comment due to the use of the word spade in UK slang during the 1960 as a derogatory comment towards black people? or is it just referring to the point that the person in question would call the gardening device a spade rather than a shovel?
why do we say " black as the ace of spades" rather than Black as the ace of clubs and is it two a derogatory comment linked to the above ?
where does the phrase "pot calling the kettle black" come from ?
these questions have been bugging me all week as I often use them (though not intentionally in a racist manner) and do not want to carry on causing offence to people if they are in fact racist comments.
User Reviews
Submitted by Trout (user info) at 2004-03-19 12:49:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I always thought calling a spade a spade was what you said.
I've heard/read this phrase before (can't remember where, sorry):
He was a straight talking yorkshireman. The type that would call a spade a spade and never a shovel.
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Submitted by Random Joe at 2003-08-08 16:45:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The pot calling the kettle black:
Origian: Cervantes' Don Quixote.
Calling a spade a spade:
Origin: It pre-dates the slang use of the term spade meaning Negro as exemplified in 'as black as the ace of spades'. In use since at least 300BC.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2003-08-08 12:16:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Its a contradictory term. Its like a fat man saying a skinny persons fat. Or a gay man saying a straight persons gay. Its a contradiction and somewhat hypocritical.
You're wrong. It's a gay person making fun of a gay person for being gay, or a fat person calling another fat person fat. You're stupid.
Submitted by Manfre (user info) at 2003-08-08 10:05:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"is the quote "he calls a spade a spade" considered a racist comment due to the use of the word spade in UK slang during the 1960 as a derogatory comment towards black people? or is it just referring to the point that the person in question would call the gardening device a spade rather than a shovel?"
Im not sure but I think its derogatory... Ive heard the saying "A niggers a nigger" a lot. So Im guessing its along the same lines. Not too sure though.
"why do we say " black as the ace of spades" rather than Black as the ace of clubs and is it two a derogatory comment linked to the above ?"
Ace of spades is more widely recognized and much more prominant. Just look at a deck of cards. Youll see that the Ace of Spades has a larger symbol in the center. Thats because its a prominant card. Its also used more widely as a "calling card" for shooters. By shooters I mean snipers and the such.
"where does the phrase "pot calling the kettle black" come from ?"
Its a contradictory term. Its like a fat man saying a skinny persons fat. Or a gay man saying a straight persons gay. Its a contradiction and somewhat hypocritical.
Submitted by chicagogirl (user info) at 2003-08-08 10:01:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
every pot has its lid!
Submitted by Moneypenny (user info) at 2003-08-08 10:00:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
my personal favorite being 'softly softly catchie monkey'
Submitted by SubstnceP (user info) at 2003-08-08 09:59:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
The pot calling the kettle black is not a racist comment. It refers to someone being a hipocrit. As for the others...I'm not down with your crazy English jargon.
Submitted by EspoDmouth (user info) at 2003-08-08 09:52:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i think we`ve got too many chiefs and no indians, but it might just be that we have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.
peace
espo
Submitted by Rivers_Liebig (user info) at 2003-08-08 09:46:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Guessing here on pot calling kettle black:
What happens is that kettle gets scorched from sitting on an open flame, as does a pot, but the pot is still trying to point out a flaw in the kettle by saying "Look! You've been scorched!", when it itself has also gone dark. This is not racist.
Dunno about the playing cards puzzle.
Submitted by Moneypenny (user info) at 2003-08-08 09:43:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
equally too many cooks spoil the broth
Submitted by chicagogirl (user info) at 2003-08-08 09:38:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
a watched pot never boils