speak/talk of the devil

speak of the devil

An acknowledgment of a person who has arrived just as or after they were being discussed. (A shortening of the longer proverb "speak of the devil, and he shall/will/is sure to appear.") A: "Hey everyone, sorry I'm late!" B: "Well, speak of the devil! We were just speaking talking something funny you were saying the other day."

See also: devil, of, speak

talk of the devil

An acknowledgment of a person who has arrived just as or after they were being discussed. (A shortened variation of the longer, more common proverb, "speak of the devil, and he shall/will/is sure to appear.") John: "Hey everyone, sorry I'm late!" Dave: "Well, talk of the devil! I was just telling them about something funny you said the other day."

speak of the devil (and in he walks),

and Talk of the devil (and he is sure to appear).

Prov. Talk about a certain person, and that person appears. (Used when someone appears whom you have just been talking about.) Alan: I haven't seen Bob for weeks. Jane: Look, here comes Bob right now. Alan: Well, talk of the devil. Hi, there. We were just talking about you. speak of the devil and in he walks.

See also: devil, of, speak

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

speak of the devil

The person just mentioned has appeared, as in Why, speak of the devil-there's Jeannie. This expression is a shortening of the older Speak of the devil and he's sure to appear, based on the superstition that pronouncing the devil's name will cause his arrival on the scene. The figurative use was already explained in James Kelly's Scottish Proverbs (1721).

See also: devil, of, speak

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

speak of the devil

talk of the devil

SPOKEN

People say speak of the devil or talk of the devil if someone they have just been talking about arrives unexpectedly. `Speak of the devil,' she greeted him, smiling. `Well, talk of the devil.' Duncan had wandered up from the beach in red wellies and a duffel coat. Note: This expression comes from the saying `talk of the devil and he will appear'.

See also: devil, of, speak

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

speak (or talk) of the devil

said when a person appears just after being mentioned.

This phrase stems from the superstition that the devil will manifest himself if his name is spoken.

See also: devil, of, speak

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

speak/talk of the ˈdevil

(informal, saying) said when somebody who has just been mentioned appears unexpectedly: ‘I haven’t seen Leo for a while.’ ‘Well, speak of the devil, here he is!’

speak of the devil

in. said when someone whose name has just been mentioned appears or is heard from. (Cliché.) And speak of the devil, here’s Ted now.

See also: devil, of, speak

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

speak of the devil

Now that one mentions that person, he or she turns up. This old proverbial saying is, as John Ciardi pointed out, a leftover from the ancient superstitious belief that pronouncing the devil’s name will cause him to appear. Indeed, the full saying is, Speak of the devil and he’s sure to appear. For primitive peoples, one’s name was an essential part of one’s being, and to speak a name gave one some power over the person named. The roots of the cliché have been largely forgotten, and today it is most often voiced simply when a person one has been talking about unexpectedly appears on the scene.

See also: devil, of, speak

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

speak of the devil

Acknowledgment of someone's unexpected arrival. The complete expression is “speak of the devil and he will appear,” which is nothing that superstitious people wanted to have happen. As such a cautionary tale, the expression was not used in jest until the late 19th century. That's when responding to an unanticipated appearance with “speak of the devil” lost its dark satanic connotation.

See also: devil, of, speak

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price

See also:

speak of the devil
speak of the devil, and he appears
speak of the devil, and he is sure to appear
speak of the devil, and he shall appear
speak of the devil, and he will appear
talk of the devil
talk of the devil, and he is bound to appear
talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear
talk of the devil, and he shall appear
talk of the devil, and he will appear

词组	speak/talk of the devil
释义	speak/talk of the devil speak of the devil An acknowledgment of a person who has arrived just as or after they were being discussed. (A shortening of the longer proverb "speak of the devil, and he shall/will/is sure to appear.") A: "Hey everyone, sorry I'm late!" B: "Well, speak of the devil! We were just speaking talking something funny you were saying the other day." See also: devil, of, speak talk of the devil An acknowledgment of a person who has arrived just as or after they were being discussed. (A shortened variation of the longer, more common proverb, "speak of the devil, and he shall/will/is sure to appear.") John: "Hey everyone, sorry I'm late!" Dave: "Well, talk of the devil! I was just telling them about something funny you said the other day." See also: devil, of, talk Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. speak of the devil (and in he walks), and Talk of the devil (and he is sure to appear). Prov. Talk about a certain person, and that person appears. (Used when someone appears whom you have just been talking about.) Alan: I haven't seen Bob for weeks. Jane: Look, here comes Bob right now. Alan: Well, talk of the devil. Hi, there. We were just talking about you. speak of the devil and in he walks. See also: devil, of, speak McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. speak of the devil The person just mentioned has appeared, as in Why, speak of the devil-there's Jeannie. This expression is a shortening of the older Speak of the devil and he's sure to appear, based on the superstition that pronouncing the devil's name will cause his arrival on the scene. The figurative use was already explained in James Kelly's Scottish Proverbs (1721). See also: devil, of, speak The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. speak of the devil or talk of the devil SPOKEN People say speak of the devil or talk of the devil if someone they have just been talking about arrives unexpectedly. `Speak of the devil,' she greeted him, smiling. `Well, talk of the devil.' Duncan had wandered up from the beach in red wellies and a duffel coat. Note: This expression comes from the saying `talk of the devil and he will appear'. See also: devil, of, speak Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. speak (or talk) of the devil said when a person appears just after being mentioned. This phrase stems from the superstition that the devil will manifest himself if his name is spoken. See also: devil, of, speak Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary speak/talk of the ˈdevil (informal, saying) said when somebody who has just been mentioned appears unexpectedly: ‘I haven’t seen Leo for a while.’ ‘Well, speak of the devil, here he is!’ See also: devil, of, speak, talk Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary speak of the devil in. said when someone whose name has just been mentioned appears or is heard from. (Cliché.) And speak of the devil, here’s Ted now. See also: devil, of, speak McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions speak of the devil Now that one mentions that person, he or she turns up. This old proverbial saying is, as John Ciardi pointed out, a leftover from the ancient superstitious belief that pronouncing the devil’s name will cause him to appear. Indeed, the full saying is, Speak of the devil and he’s sure to appear. For primitive peoples, one’s name was an essential part of one’s being, and to speak a name gave one some power over the person named. The roots of the cliché have been largely forgotten, and today it is most often voiced simply when a person one has been talking about unexpectedly appears on the scene. See also: devil, of, speak The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer speak of the devil Acknowledgment of someone's unexpected arrival. The complete expression is “speak of the devil and he will appear,” which is nothing that superstitious people wanted to have happen. As such a cautionary tale, the expression was not used in jest until the late 19th century. That's when responding to an unanticipated appearance with “speak of the devil” lost its dark satanic connotation. See also: devil, of, speak Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price See also: speak of the devil speak of the devil, and he appears speak of the devil, and he is sure to appear speak of the devil, and he shall appear speak of the devil, and he will appear talk of the devil talk of the devil, and he is bound to appear talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear talk of the devil, and he shall appear talk of the devil, and he will appear
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