devil
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəl/
- Informal
- What the devil's going on?
- speak of the devil
- what the devil is going on
- what the devil happened
Examples
-
Wow, speak of the devil, here I come.
-
And who the devil invited this guy to my comments section?
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But but then what the devil are they?
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And our favorite part is what the oh, hey, speak of the devil, Peter, how are you guys?
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And speak of the devil!
-
What the devil's the matter with you?
-
"What the devil is that?" asks Liam, turning in his chair to see.
Fiction book (1998) -
When Daddy saw the angel on the grave next to ours, he cried, "What the devil?"
Fiction book (2002) -
This animal barely weighs anything but fights like a devil.
-
What the devil is going on here? I wasn't expecting to see you!
Synonyms
A word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or confusion
A phrase said to show surprise, confusion, or annoyance
A word people say in exclamations to show surprise, confusion, or annoyance
Idioms
- Informal
To take a serious risk by doing something morally wrong to gain power or money
You must choose between two options that are both bad
Compounds
- Informal
A man who is attractive and playfully charming and sometimes hard to trust
- Australian
A small fierce animal from Tasmania that carries its young in a pouch and eats meat
- Slur
A rude name used in East Asia for someone from another country, often a Western person, showing fear or hate
- UK
A strong plant that spreads quickly and is used for lawns and pastures in warm places
- UK
A plant that lives many years with large reddish orange flowers with black spots and petals that curve back
- Indian
A tall tropical tree from eastern Asia and the Philippines with glossy leaves and small white flowers
- Australian
A bushy Australian shrub with clusters of bright red flowers that attract birds
Surface Forms
Etymology
Devil was long used as a strong oath because people used the name of the devil to show surprise or anger, so saying 'Devil!' became a quick way to express shock or annoyance. That's why devil appears in exclamations.