devil
devil — noun
1. A frightening creature from stories and old tales, usually shown with a pointed
A frightening creature from stories and old tales, usually shown with a pointed tail, two horns on its head, and red or black skin.
The old painting shows a devil with horns, a tail, and flames around his feet.
visual description of the folklore figure
In the story, the hero fights a devil that guards the entrance to a dark cave.
Mert dressed as a devil for the costume party, complete with a red cape and plastic trident.
costume context with concrete props
The museum displayed a wooden statue of a devil with a grinning face and pointed ears.
- devil costume
- devil mask
- picture of a devil
- devil horns
- angel
a good spiritual being, often shown with wings and a halo
Grammar Patterns
the devil
a devil
2. Within the Christian and Jewish faiths, the supreme evil being who governs hell
Within the Christian and Jewish faiths, the supreme evil being who governs hell and ceaselessly seeks to turn humans away from God.
Diya's grandmother taught her that the Devil tempts people to lie and cheat.
the Devil as tempter in religious context
The church window shows a battle between God and the Devil painted in bright colours.
Some believers say prayers each evening to ask for protection from the Devil.
Christopher asked his priest whether the Devil could read human thoughts.
- the Devil
- worship the Devil
- the Devil's work
- fight the Devil
- the Devil himself
- God
the supreme being of goodness whom the Devil opposes
Grammar Patterns
the Devil
Usage Note
When referring to the supreme evil being in Christianity and Judaism, this sense is usually capitalised as 'the Devil' and treated as a proper noun. Lowercase 'devil' (sense 1) refers to the general folklore creature.
Common Mistakes
3. A child or young person who is frequently disobedient, refuses to follow rules,
A child or young person who is frequently disobedient, refuses to follow rules, and creates small problems for adults.
Christopher's little brother is a real devil — he hid all the TV remotes under the sofa.
informal register: a real devil for a naughty child
Min told her three-year-old son to stop being a devil and put his shoes on for school.
The babysitter called the twins little devils after they poured flour all over the kitchen floor.
Xiu's nephew is a cheeky devil who draws on the walls with crayons every chance he gets.
- little devil
- real devil
- naughty devil
- angel
used informally for a very well-behaved child
Grammar Patterns
a little devil
a real devil
Usage Note
Used playfully or with mild frustration, not with genuine anger. Often preceded by 'little' or 'real'. The synonym 'rascal' is gentler; 'brat' is harsher.
Common Mistakes
4. Someone who gets excitement from behaving in ways that most people consider shoc
Someone who gets excitement from behaving in ways that most people consider shocking, risky, or socially improper.
Ezra is a bit of a devil — he once climbed onto the roof of the school at midnight.
phrase: a bit of a devil
Lara is a young devil who loves sneaking into old buildings to take photographs.
Come on, be a devil and order the chocolate cake — you deserve a treat after that exam.
fixed phrase: be a devil for encouraging risk
Diya is such a devil that she once went skydiving without telling her parents until after she landed.
- a bit of a devil
- young devil
- be a devil
Grammar Patterns
a bit of a devil
be a devil
Usage Note
Usually carries a tone of playful admiration rather than real disapproval. The fixed phrase 'be a devil' is used to encourage someone to do something they are hesitant about.
5. A word placed after an adjective such as 'poor', 'lucky', or 'old' to describe a
A word placed after an adjective such as 'poor', 'lucky', or 'old' to describe a person and show the speaker's feeling about them, often sympathy, envy, or mild annoyance.
The poor devil waited in the rain for two hours before the bus finally arrived.
collocation: poor devil for expressing sympathy
Yasmin called her brother a lucky devil after he found a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk.
collocation: lucky devil for expressing envy
That old devil next door still mows his own lawn at eighty years of age.
collocation: old devil for expressing affection
The silly devil locked his keys inside the car and had to call a locksmith.
- poor devil
- lucky devil
- old devil
- fellow
neutral and less emotional; 'devil' adds colour and informality
Grammar Patterns
adjective + devil
Usage Note
Only used with a preceding adjective — 'poor devil', 'lucky devil', 'old devil', 'silly devil'. Without the adjective, the meaning shifts to another sense. The adjective carries the emotional colour; 'devil' itself is just a placeholder noun.
Common Mistakes
6. A supernatural creature that brings harm, illness, or bad luck to people; a demo
A supernatural creature that brings harm, illness, or bad luck to people; a demon from folk beliefs or ancient stories.
The old farmer believed a devil had cursed his land after the strange fires started.
Talia's grandmother told stories about a devil that whispered bad ideas into people's ears at night.
evil spirit causing harm through temptation
The shaman performed a ceremony to drive the devils out of the sick woman's house.
The villagers believed a devil had taken shelter inside the old abandoned mill.
- drive out a devil
- devil worship
- possessed by a devil
- guardian angel
a protective good spirit
Grammar Patterns
a devil
devils
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (FOLKLORE FIGURE): sense 1 describes a visual, physically depicted creature with horns and a tail. Sense 6 describes an intangible evil spirit that causes harm or misfortune and is not defined by visual features.
7. A person who behaves in a heartless, brutal, or inhuman way, causing deliberate
A person who behaves in a heartless, brutal, or inhuman way, causing deliberate suffering to other people.
The prison guard was an absolute devil who made inmates stand outside in the freezing cold for hours.
intensifier: absolute devil
That devil of a landlord raised the rent by fifty per cent with no warning at all.
phrase: that devil of a [noun]
Neighbours described the murderer as a devil who showed no regret for what he had done.
The ship's captain was a devil who beat sailors for the smallest mistake.
- absolute devil
- utter devil
- that devil of a
- saint
a very kind, patient, and good person
Grammar Patterns
a devil
an absolute devil
Usage Note
This is the strongest 'person' sense of devil — compare with sense 3 (BADLY BEHAVED) which is playful and mild, and sense 4 (DARING PERSON) which is admiring. This sense implies genuine evil or cruelty.
Common Mistakes
speak of the devil
idiomSaid when the person you have just been talking about unexpectedly walks in or appears.
We were just talking about Ilan, and speak of the devil — there he is at the door.
Speak of the devil! I was telling Élise about your new job and you walked right in.
devil's advocate
idiomSomeone who argues against an idea or opinion simply to test whether it is strong enough, even if they actually agree with it.
Let me play devil's advocate for a moment — what if the plan costs twice as much as we expect?
Xiu always plays devil's advocate in team meetings to make sure everyone has considered the downsides.
A saying that small, hidden parts of a plan, contract, or task are often the most difficult or problematic.
The contract looks good overall, but the devil is in the details — especially the small print about fees.
When you plan a wedding, the devil is in the details: the seating chart, the flowers, and the timing.
It is wiser to stay in a familiar bad situation than to move to a new one that could be much worse.
I stayed at the boring job because better the devil you know than a new company that might be worse.
Mayumi decided not to switch clinics — better the devil you know, she told herself.
In a difficult situation where both available choices are equally unpleasant or harmful.
If I quit my job I will have no money, but if I stay I will be miserable — I am between the devil and the deep blue sea.
The voters were between the devil and the deep blue sea, choosing between two candidates they both disliked.
like the devil
idiomVery fast, hard, or intensely; used to describe doing something with great energy or determination.
The children ran like the devil when they heard the ice cream truck coming down the street.
Christopher was working like the devil to finish the report before the five o'clock deadline.
To do anything, including bad or dishonest things, in exchange for money, success, or power.
Some people say the musician sold his soul to the devil when he became famous overnight.
She felt she had sold her soul to the devil by taking a job at a company that harmed the environment.
what the devil
idiomUsed before a question to express surprise, anger, or confusion about something.
What the devil happened to the garden — the flowers are all pulled out of the soil.
What the devil did you put in this soup? It is so spicy that my mouth is burning.
be a devil
idiomUsed to encourage someone to do something they are hesitant about.
Go on, be a devil, have another slice of cake.
Be a devil and buy that expensive jacket you like.
It is wiser to stay in a familiar bad situation than to risk a new one that might be worse.
She stayed with her boss because better the devil you know.
I didn't change jobs; better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
the devil
idiomSomething that is very difficult or unpleasant.
This math problem is the devil to solve.
Getting that old car started was the devil this morning.
Bad people often seem to have good luck.
He cheated on the test and still passed; the devil looks after his own.
That dishonest businessman never gets caught; the devil looks after his own.
People who have nothing to do often get into trouble.
The teacher gave extra homework because the devil makes work for idle hands.
My grandmother always said the devil makes work for idle hands.
A very difficult or unpleasant job or experience.
We had a devil of a time finding the hotel in the dark.
Fixing the leaky pipe was a devil of a job.
A lot of trouble or serious consequences.
If we miss the deadline, there will be the devil to pay.
When Mom finds the broken vase, there'll be hell to pay.
go to the devil!
idiomUsed to angrily tell someone to go away.
When he kept bothering me, I told him to go to the devil.
Go to the devil! I don't want to hear your excuses.
To do anything, even immoral things, for money, success, or power.
He sold his soul to the devil to become a famous actor.
She would sell her soul for that promotion.
Said when someone you were just talking about appears unexpectedly.
Speak of the devil, here comes Tom now.
We were just discussing Sara, and talk of the devil, she walked in.
Used in questions to express annoyance or surprise.
What the devil are you doing in my room?
Where the devil did you put my keys?
devil — verb
1. To prepare a dish by rubbing or spreading a hot, strongly seasoned mixture — oft
To prepare a dish by rubbing or spreading a hot, strongly seasoned mixture — often made with mustard, chilli, or black pepper — over food such as chicken, eggs, or seafood before cooking.
The chef devilled the chicken legs with a paste of mustard, chilli, and vinegar before baking them.
passive: devilled + food item
Mayumi learned to devil prawns by coating them in hot spices and baking them until golden brown.
For the party, Talia devilled some eggs and arranged them neatly on a large white plate.
common dish: devilled eggs
The restaurant serves devilled mushrooms with garlic and hot paprika.
- devilled eggs
- devilled chicken
- devilled ham
- devilled seafood
Grammar Patterns
devil + noun (food)
devilled + noun
Usage Note
Almost exclusively used in the past participle form 'devilled' (UK) or 'deviled' (US) as part of dish names: 'devilled eggs', 'devilled chicken', 'devilled kidneys'. The simple present tense ('I devil the chicken') is very rare.
2. To annoy or make fun of someone in a way that is partly playful but can also be
To annoy or make fun of someone in a way that is partly playful but can also be slightly unkind.
The older boys kept devilling Ilan about his new haircut until his face turned bright red.
informal register: devilling someone about something
Xiu's younger brother loves to devil her by hiding her phone just before she leaves for school.
Stop devilling the cat — you can see her tail twitching with annoyance.
My grandfather used to devil his sister by hiding her favourite hairbrush.
- devil someone about
- keep devilling
- comfort
to soothe or support rather than provoke
Grammar Patterns
devil + noun phrase
Usage Note
Less common than 'tease' or 'annoy'. Today it sounds old-fashioned or regional in this sense. Learners are more likely to encounter this meaning in older novels and films than in daily conversation.
Word family
- devilishadjectiveB2
- devilishlyadverbC1
- devilmentnounC1
- devilrynounC2
- bedevilverbC1
- devilledadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All three words refer to evil supernatural beings, but they differ in scope and religious specificity. 'Satan' (capitalised) is a proper noun — the specific named figure in the Bible who tempts Jesus and opposes God. 'The Devil' (with capital D) is essentially the same figure, but 'Satan' is more personal and Biblical, while 'the Devil' carries broader folk and literary associations. 'Demon' is a general term for any evil spirit, ranging from minor folk creatures to powerful fallen angels; unlike 'the Devil' and 'Satan', 'demon' is not a single being but a category. In everyday use: 'Some Christians believe the Devil tempts people to sin' uses the general religious figure; 'In the Bible, Satan tested Job's faith' uses the specific name; 'The old stories tell of demons that possess people' refers to many spirits.
Common collocations
Nouns
- devil worship
- devil figure
- devil costume
- devil mask
- devil's food cake
Phrases
- like the devil
- a devil of a
- the devil to pay
- devil-may-care
Etymology
The word 'devil' comes from Old English 'dēofol', which was borrowed from Latin 'diabolus', itself from Greek 'diabolos' meaning 'slanderer' or 'accuser'. The Greek word comes from 'diaballein' (to throw across, to slander). Early Christian writers used the term to translate the Hebrew 'Satan' (adversary) in the Bible. Over time the word spread across Germanic and Romance languages, and its meaning broadened from the specific religious figure to include any evil spirit and, later, figurative uses for people.