speak of the devil
An expression sometimes used when a person mentioned in the current conversation happens to arrive on the scene.
A: You know who would appreciate this? Tom. B: Speak of the devil! Look who just walked in!
devil
/ˈdɛvəl/
noun 5verb 5name 2
Collocations
7(noun.)
VERB + DEVIL
believe in
Many people in her family believe in the devil and avoid certain things out of fear.
worship
be possessed by
She danced wildly all night as if possessed by the devil.
exorcize
DEVIL + NOUN
worship | worshipper
PHRASES
the devil incarnate
My teenage son thinks his strict math teacher is the devil incarnate.
Definitions
name
1
The chief devil; Satan.
noun
1
An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.
2
A fictional image of a man, usually red or orange in skin color; with a set of horns on his head, a pointed goatee and a long tail and carrying a pitchfork; that represents evil and portrayed to children in an effort to discourage bad behav
3
The bad part of the conscience; the opposite to the angel.
The devil in me wants to let him suffer.
4
A wicked or naughty person, or one who harbors reckless, spirited energy, especially in a mischievous way; usually said of a young child.
Those two kids are devils in a toy store.
5
A thing that is awkward or difficult to understand or do.
That math problem was a devil.
verb
1
To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
2
To annoy or bother.
3
To work as a ‘devil’; to work for a lawyer or writer without fee or recognition.
He did not repeat the scathing estimate of her character by Quatrefages, who at that time spent one afternoon a week devilling at the Consulate, keeping the petty-cash box in order.
4
To ghostwrite; to author while working as a ‘devil’.
Didn't secretaries write the speeches of Parliamentary "big-bugs"? Weren't the opinions of eminent lawyers often written by their juniors, read over and signed? Weren't briefs and pleadings devilled?
5
To prepare (food) with spices, making it spicy:
[…]; you could watch a buckwheat pancake whirled into existence under your eyes and see fowls' legs devilled, peppered, grilled, and tormented till they lost all semblance of the original Mariposa chicken.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
the devil is in the details
The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
Krupp already has an agreement in principle for the deal, but precise details are still being worked out by Polish officials and a Krupp bargaining team ("The devil is in the detai
give the devil his due
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
[…]for he was never yet a breaker of proverbs: he will give the devil his due.
between the devil and the deep blue sea
Between undesirable alternatives.
speak of the devil and he appears
Synonym of speak of the devil.
Example Bank
601
The devil in me wants to let him suffer.
Wiktionary02
Those two kids are devils in a toy store.
Wiktionary03
That math problem was a devil.
Wiktionary04
He did not repeat the scathing estimate of her character by Quatrefages, who at that time spent one afternoon a week devilling at the Consulate, keeping the petty-cash box in order.
Wiktionary05
Didn't secretaries write the speeches of Parliamentary "big-bugs"? Weren't the opinions of eminent lawyers often written by their juniors, read over and signed? Weren't briefs and pleadings devilled?
Wiktionary06
[…]; you could watch a buckwheat pancake whirled into existence under your eyes and see fowls' legs devilled, peppered, grilled, and tormented till they lost all semblance of the original Mariposa chi
WiktionaryUsage Notes
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