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Jul 17, 2023 · Learn the meaning and origin of the idiom "the devil you know", which means it's better to deal with a familiar but imperfect situation than to risk an unknown one. See examples of how to use this phrase in different contexts and pop culture references.
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Definition: Something bad but known is better than something unknown. This proverb, often shortened to “better the devil you know,” describes how to deal with something unpleasant. The “devil” could be any bad person, place, or thing. This idea behind this proverb is that dealing with a bad thing that you already know and have faced is preferable t...
This is an Irish proverb that has been in use since the 1300s. There are two main ideas about its origins. Some say that it first appeared in a book of proverbs by R. Taverner. Others claim that it was first said during a war for control between two brothers. According to this tale, when one brother took over rule, the commoners were happy because ...
This phrase is most often used to describe people. For example, a politician in power may be frustrating or corrupt, but people may fear that his or her opponent in an election will create worse laws and be even more corrupt. In this situation, it is better to vote for the “devil you know” because people understand how to work with that politician ...
“Various people, especially his Senate colleagues, have repeatedly said on and off the record that he’s terrible to work with, but what’s past is past. As they say, better the devil you know than t...
Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know cautions that although something may be bad now, an unknown option could be even worse.
Learn the definition and origin of the proverb "better the devil you know", which means something bad but known is better than something unknown. See examples of how to use this phrase in different contexts.
Learn the meaning and usage of this idiom, which means it is better to deal with a familiar and difficult person or situation than with a new and unknown one that could be worse. See examples, synonyms, and related words.
Sep 17, 2023 · Learn the definition and usage of the idiom "better the devil you know", which means choosing the familiar over the unknown. Find out its historical roots, alternative expressions, and pop culture references.
Learn the meaning and origin of the expression 'better the devil you know', which means it may be better to deal with a familiar person or thing than a new one. See examples and related idioms.
the devil you know. A shortening of the proverb "better the devil you know than the devil you don't," meaning that, when forced to decide, it's better to choose a difficult or undesirable option that one is used to or familiar with rather than an unknown person or thing.
Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom better the devil you know, which means it is wiser to deal with someone or something familiar than with something unknown. See examples, synonyms, translations and related words.
