Definition

1. Noun (informal, often preceded by 'the'):
   • A difficult, troublesome, or awkward person or thing: Used to emphasize the challenging, problematic, or annoying nature of a situation, task, or individual.
   • Used for emphasis in questions or exclamations: Functions as an intensifier, often expressing surprise, frustration, or strong emphasis, similar to "on earth" or "the heck."

Examples of Usage

• Noun (difficult thing): Fixing this old engine is going to be the devil. (Repairing this old engine is going to be very difficult.) Getting that stain out was the devil. (Removing that stain was extremely troublesome.)

• Noun (for emphasis in questions): Who the devil are you? (Who on earth are you?) What the devil is that noise? (What on earth is that noise?) Where the devil did I put my keys? (Where on earth did I put my keys?)

Advanced Usage

• "be the devil to do/infinitive": To be extremely difficult or troublesome to accomplish. This door is the devil to open. (This door is incredibly hard to open.) The final chapter was the devil to write. (The final chapter was terribly difficult to write.)

• "give the devil his due": To acknowledge a good quality or fair point even in someone you dislike or disapprove of. I don't like his methods, but to give the devil his due, he gets results. (I don't like his methods, but to be fair, he achieves good outcomes.)

Variants and Related Words

• Devilish (adj): Having the qualities of a devil; wicked, mischievous, or extremely difficult. That was a devilish puzzle to solve. (That was an extremely tricky puzzle to solve.)

• Devilry / Deviltry (n): Wicked or mischievous behavior. The children were up to some devilry in the attic. (The children were engaged in some mischief in the attic.)

Synonyms

• A pain (in the neck): An annoying or troublesome person or thing.
• A nightmare: A very difficult or frightening experience.
• The dickens (archaic/informal): Used similarly for emphasis (e.g., ).
• The deuce (archaic): Used similarly for emphasis (e.g., ).

Related Phrases

• Speak/talk of the devil: Said when a person you have just been talking about appears. "And then John said—" "Well, speak of the devil, here he is now!"

• Between the devil and the deep blue sea: In a difficult situation where both choices are bad. I'm between the devil and the deep blue sea: I can either take a pay cut or lose my job.

Related Idioms

• The devil is in the details: The success of something depends on getting the small, complicated parts right. The contract looks good, but remember, the devil is in the details.

• Better the devil you know (than the devil you don't): It is wiser to deal with a familiar but unpleasant situation than to risk a new one that might be worse. I'm not happy with my current job, but better the devil you know.

Noun

1. something difficult or awkward to do or deal with
   • it will be the devil to solve