Reader's question:  

I think it's fair to say that Europe's response to its current crisis will lead to the creation of European Monetary Fund. It probably won't use those words to described it, but if it walks like a dog, you know, call it a dog.

Could you explain “if it walks like a dog, call it a dog"?

My comments:

Do you know the expression "call a spade a spade"?

Well, this is it. If it walks like a dog, it (most probably) is a dog. Don't bother calling it a cat or anything else.

In other words, no mincing words and putting it mildly, just say exactly what you think even if it may offend some people.

If someone talks like a politician, walks like a politician, you know, he is a politician. Don't bother calling him by any other name.

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Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文僅代表作者本人觀點，與本網立場無關。歡迎大家討論學術問題，尊重他人，禁止人身攻擊和發布一切違反國家現行法律法規的內容。

Zhang Xin（張欣） has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.