Devil
noun
A powerful evil spirit in some religions.
They believed that he was possessed by the devil.
Often appears as...
- the devil himself
- the devil's work
noun
A way to refer to a person who is very clever or acts in a bad way.
He's a little devil when he wants to be!
Often appears as...
- little devil
- old devil
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A tough situation or severe problem.
I'm having the devil of a time trying to solve this puzzle.
Often appears as...
- the devil of a problem
- the devil of a time.
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
noun
In cooking, 'to devil' is to cook with hot seasonings.
She decided to devil the eggs for an added kick of flavor.
Often appears as...
- devil the eggs
- devil the ham.
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To annoy or bother someone persistently.
Stop deviling me about it!
Often appears as...
- devil me about it
- don't devil me.
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
A powerful evil spirit in some religions.
They believed that he was possessed by the devil.
Often appears as...
- the devil himself
- the devil's work
noun
A way to refer to a person who is very clever or acts in a bad way.
He's a little devil when he wants to be!
Often appears as...
- little devil
- old devil
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A tough situation or severe problem.
I'm having the devil of a time trying to solve this puzzle.
Often appears as...
- the devil of a problem
- the devil of a time.
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
noun
In cooking, 'to devil' is to cook with hot seasonings.
She decided to devil the eggs for an added kick of flavor.
Often appears as...
- devil the eggs
- devil the ham.
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To annoy or bother someone persistently.
Stop deviling me about it!
Often appears as...
- devil me about it
- don't devil me.
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Origin
Originally linked to religious beliefs about evil beings opposing good.
Many cultures have stories featuring the devil in a battle against gods.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion
Evokes fear or disapproval, often used to scare or warn people.
Parents might say 'Behave or the devil will get you!' to their kids.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
In modern usage, it's not always a literal belief but can be metaphorical.
When the computer crashed, she cursed the devil inside it.
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Origin
Originally linked to religious beliefs about evil beings opposing good.
Many cultures have stories featuring the devil in a battle against gods.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion
Evokes fear or disapproval, often used to scare or warn people.
Parents might say 'Behave or the devil will get you!' to their kids.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
In modern usage, it's not always a literal belief but can be metaphorical.
When the computer crashed, she cursed the devil inside it.
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Origin
Originally linked to religious beliefs about evil beings opposing good.
Many cultures have stories featuring the devil in a battle against gods.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion
Evokes fear or disapproval, often used to scare or warn people.
Parents might say 'Behave or the devil will get you!' to their kids.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
In modern usage, it's not always a literal belief but can be metaphorical.
When the computer crashed, she cursed the devil inside it.
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Video examples
Deep Sea Anglerfish Sex...
I mean, I hate to say, yeah, it's a bit stereotype but it's the stuff of nightmares. It really is. It's like you know you couldn't make it up, could you? But it does, it exists. But it's a monster, it is a monster. This one is called the snag tooth sea devil. I like the names of them as well. Look at that. They're very characteristic, aren't they? Very characteristic.
Video examples
A tale of mental illness...
is a waking nightmare in which my devils are so terrifying that all my angels have already fled. So would I take the pill? In an instant. That said, I don't wish to be seen as regretting the life I could have had if I'd not been mentally ill, nor am I asking anyone for their pity.
Video examples
Why should you read...
She wrote, "When one reads of a witch being ducked, of a woman possessed by devils, of a wise woman selling herbs, or even a very remarkable man who had a mother, then I think we're on the track of a lost novelist, a suppressed poet,
Video examples
Bite of the Tasmanian...
larger than the rest of its torso and supports an unusually prominent and powerful mouth to date Taz's have killed no humans but inadvertent encounters with devils kenan and bloodshed one of the only ways to observe them is in
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
but this is just what the frigate birds have been waiting for when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between devil and the deep blue sea
Video examples
The tale of the boy who...
Reluctantly, the youth knocked on the rotting door. The devil’s grandmother answered his call. She was known to help some visiting souls, and harm others.
Video examples
Best Scenes From The...
have been waiting for when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Video examples
ONE HOUR of Amazing...
have been waiting for when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Video examples
Flying Fish Picked Off...
When frigates join the hunt, the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Video examples
Wild Leaps Of Faith PIPE...
when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Video examples
Deep Sea Anglerfish Sex...
I mean, I hate to say, yeah, it's a bit stereotype but it's the stuff of nightmares. It really is. It's like you know you couldn't make it up, could you? But it does, it exists. But it's a monster, it is a monster. This one is called the snag tooth sea devil. I like the names of them as well. Look at that. They're very characteristic, aren't they? Very characteristic.
Video examples
A tale of mental illness...
is a waking nightmare in which my devils are so terrifying that all my angels have already fled. So would I take the pill? In an instant. That said, I don't wish to be seen as regretting the life I could have had if I'd not been mentally ill, nor am I asking anyone for their pity.
Video examples
Why should you read...
She wrote, "When one reads of a witch being ducked, of a woman possessed by devils, of a wise woman selling herbs, or even a very remarkable man who had a mother, then I think we're on the track of a lost novelist, a suppressed poet,
Video examples
Bite of the Tasmanian...
larger than the rest of its torso and supports an unusually prominent and powerful mouth to date Taz's have killed no humans but inadvertent encounters with devils kenan and bloodshed one of the only ways to observe them is in
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
but this is just what the frigate birds have been waiting for when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between devil and the deep blue sea
Video examples
The tale of the boy who...
Reluctantly, the youth knocked on the rotting door. The devil’s grandmother answered his call. She was known to help some visiting souls, and harm others.
Video examples
Best Scenes From The...
have been waiting for when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Video examples
ONE HOUR of Amazing...
have been waiting for when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Video examples
Flying Fish Picked Off...
When frigates join the hunt, the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Video examples
Wild Leaps Of Faith PIPE...
when frigates join the hunt the flying fish are literally caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Red Adair
American Celebrity
I've done made a deal with the devil. He said he's going to give me an air-conditioned place when I go down there, if I go there, so I won't put all the fires out.
Quote examples
Emo Philips
American Comedian
Probably the worst time in a person's life is when they have to kill a family member because they are the devil. But otherwise it's been a pretty good day.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
Our enemy, the devil, wants to control us, and his target is our will. The main way he tries to influence our will is through lying to us.
Quote examples
Marilyn Monroe
American Actress
I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.
Quote examples
Laurence Sterne
Irish Novelist
So much of motion, is so much of life, and so much of joy, and to stand still, or get on but slowly, is death and the devil.
Quote examples
Martin Luther
German Leader
If you young fellows were wise, the devil couldn't do anything to you, but since you aren't wise, you need us who are old.
Quote examples
William James
American Philosopher
The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.
Quote examples
Saint Teresa of Avila
Spanish Saint
I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.
Quote examples
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
German Critic
Let the devil catch you but by a single hair, and you are his forever.
Quote examples
Francois Rabelais
French Clergyman
Tell the truth and shame the devil.
Quote examples
Red Adair
American Celebrity
I've done made a deal with the devil. He said he's going to give me an air-conditioned place when I go down there, if I go there, so I won't put all the fires out.
Quote examples
Emo Philips
American Comedian
Probably the worst time in a person's life is when they have to kill a family member because they are the devil. But otherwise it's been a pretty good day.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
Our enemy, the devil, wants to control us, and his target is our will. The main way he tries to influence our will is through lying to us.
Quote examples
Marilyn Monroe
American Actress
I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.
Quote examples
Laurence Sterne
Irish Novelist
So much of motion, is so much of life, and so much of joy, and to stand still, or get on but slowly, is death and the devil.
Quote examples
Martin Luther
German Leader
If you young fellows were wise, the devil couldn't do anything to you, but since you aren't wise, you need us who are old.
Quote examples
William James
American Philosopher
The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.
Quote examples
Saint Teresa of Avila
Spanish Saint
I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.
Quote examples
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
German Critic
Let the devil catch you but by a single hair, and you are his forever.
Quote examples
Francois Rabelais
French Clergyman
Tell the truth and shame the devil.
Example 1 of 10
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