devil
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəl/
- Informal
- He's known to his family as a "little devil," a "rascal," a "scamp."
- a poor devil
Examples
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That little devil always finds a way to get into mischief.
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You're quite the devil for sneaking cookies before dinner!
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Then you have the little devil on your shoulder, the self doubt.
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Little devils, the lot of them.
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You really are a handsome devil.
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You're a cute little devil, aren't you?
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Poor devil.
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I just thought we'd best get started right away with these little devils in case there's a hitch.
Fiction book (1994) -
He's a charming devil, always ready to pull a prank.
Synonyms
A child or young person who is noisy and badly behaved
A noisy young person who causes trouble
A person who likes adventure and often takes big risks
Antonyms
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
How Mischievous
Surface Forms
Etymology
Devil was often used to compare naughty children or young men to small troublesome spirits, so calling someone a 'little devil' means they are mischievous or lively. So devil can mean a playful troublemaker.