spade out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spade out" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to dig or remove something using a spade, which is a type of shovel. This phrase is most commonly used when describing gardening or construction tasks. The following is an example sentence: "The workers used their shovels to spade out the soil and create a hole for the new tree to be planted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A less momentous second album, 2007's Drastic Fantastic, was released amid all the travelling: no regrets, she says, but admits she "couldn't get the spade out" to finesse the record properly due to her schedule.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

On an impulse the night before her first trade show, Spade ripped out the demure "kate spade new york" labels from inside the bags and stitched them to the outside, sewing until her fingers became puffy.

Forbes

On an impulse the night before her first trade show, Spade ripped out the demure "kate spade new york" labels from inside the bags and stitched them on the outside, sewing until her fingers got puffy.

Forbes

Gently pull the spade back out from under the pot.

WikiHow

But the health visitor who came a week later took one look and muttered, "Did they dig this baby out with a spade?" Three years after the birth my friend was still wincing every time she stood up and every time she sat down.

The Guardian

Spades turned out to be the best preparation Hough had for his work at the refinery.

The New York Times - Magazine

Virtue had to be its own reward, for the player who was known to have long spades turned out, unexpectedly, to have heart length also.

The New York Times - Arts

So, should the spades come out or is it still too soon?

Huffington Post

Pay attention to when high cards are played, who plays them, and how many spades are out there.

WikiHow

The spade king flew out of his hand!

The New York Times

Mr. Jentink bit into the soil with his spade and lifted out a giant bulb.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In contexts where the tool is less important, consider using more general terms like "dig out" or "remove".

Common error

Avoid using "spade out" in everyday conversation. It's more suitable for descriptive writing related to gardening, construction, or archaeology.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spade out" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of digging or removing something with a spade. As confirmed by Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spade out" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb that describes the act of digging or removing something using a spade. As the examples on Ludwig show, it is most frequently found in news and media, wiki sources, and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. When writing, it's best to use "spade out" when you want to emphasize the tool used in the digging process. For more informal communication, simpler alternatives like "dig out" may be more suitable. While grammatically sound, remember to maintain context appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excavate with a spade

Focuses on the digging action using a spade.

dig out using a spade

Emphasizes the digging action with specified tool.

shovel out

Broader term, implies removal with a shovel-like tool, not necessarily a spade.

unearth with a spade

Suggests discovering something while digging.

dig up

A more general term for digging, lacking the specificity of using a spade.

extract with a spade

Focuses on the removal aspect, implying careful extraction.

remove with a spade

Emphasizes the act of taking something away using the tool.

clear out with a spade

Suggests removing everything from a certain area.

hollow out with a spade

Indicates creating a cavity by removing material.

scoop out

Implies removing material with a curved tool; less specific than a spade.

FAQs

How can I use "spade out" in a sentence?

You can use "spade out" to describe the action of digging something with a spade. For example, "The gardener used a spade to "spade out" the weeds from the garden bed."

What's a synonym for "spade out"?

Alternatives to "spade out" include "dig out with a spade" or "excavate with a spade", both emphasizing the use of a spade for digging.

Is "spade out" formal or informal?

"Spade out" is neither strictly formal nor informal; it fits well in descriptive writing and instructions related to gardening or construction. It's less common in casual conversation.

When should I use "dig up" instead of "spade out"?

Use "dig up" when the specific tool is not important, or is not a spade. "Spade out" is preferred when you specifically want to highlight the use of a spade.