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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With a grain of salt

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the sky is the limit

hit it off

get my rib in my heart

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length and breadth of

get up to speed on something

Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文仅代表作者本人观点，与本网立场无关。欢迎大家讨论学术问题，尊重他人，禁止人身攻击和发布一切违反国家现行法律法规的内容。

Zhang Xin（张欣） 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.