the devil's own

the devil's own (something)

1. Very great. (Used primarily before the word "luck.") I can't believe I won the lottery and a radio contest in the same week—I must have the devil's own luck!
2. Very difficult. (Used primarily before the word "job.") I'm having the devil's own job getting this window open—I think its been painted shut.
See also: own
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the devil's own —

a very difficult or great —. informal
1991 Mavis Nicholson Martha Jane & Me It was the devil's own job to get her to give me some money for savings.
See also: own
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • the devil's own (something)
  • have the devil's (own) luck
  • the devil's (own) luck
  • luck of the devil
  • have the luck of the devil
  • luck of the Irish
  • the devil’s own time
  • the devil's own time
  • have the devil's own job
  • the devil's own job
References in periodicals archive
Published to commemorate the ninetieth anniversary of the end of the Great War, The Devil's Own War makes available Hart's diary to a wider audience.
His enemy was the Devil's own son, Blackheart, but writer-director Mark Steven Johnson only followed that up with Kristen Bell's tepid romcom, When In Rome.
I regarded e-readers as the devil's own work until I was bought one for Christmas a couple of years ago and realised what a marvellous invention it is, enabling me as it does to halve my baggage allowance when I travel (words weigh a tonne) Charles Dickens and read in bed without getting a cold shoulder (and I don't mean from my husband).
Judge Mark Ritchie-Noakes would have had the devil's own job trying to spot the winner with the naked eye on a very gloomy afternoon, and the photo from the usual angle sheds only a little light on the matter.
Ronnie Moran and Reuben Bennett were typical 'sergeant-major' types in their day, refusing to let egos get out of control and treating complacency as the devil's own work.
In his guise as the President of the United States (Air Force One), a New York cop (The Devil's Own) or Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan, Ford has a unique ability to marry the rugged physicality of an action hero with the emotion and vulnerability of the quintessential American husband and father.
His two biggest credits were roles in Brad Pitt starrer "The Devil's Own" and "Wonder Boys"--that is, before both parts were cut from the final version of the films.
``It seemed only natural that we should use one of the Devil's own henchmen,'' explained bass player Cone.
That 14-7 defeat meant Gregor Townsend's men missed out on a home semi-final and they must now take on the Devil's Own on Irish soil once again as the playoffs get under way.
Pakula, and he and leading man Ford would team up again seven years after this for the gritty action movie The Devil's Own..
The Frontline show - Luke Mitchell: The Devil's Own? - went out after Beeb bosses had shelved it in March over bias and propaganda fears.
Puel's outfit come into the game on the back of wins at St Etienne and Monaco, and Le Mans - who have scored only one in their last four in Le Championnat - face the devil's own job to improve their scoring ratio tonight.
You'll have the devil's own job stopping this lad - Rhys Owen
Their evergreen Golf may be the finest for 30 years but it's having the Devil's own job to find buyers.
The first of the Fancy Jack stories, the Devil's Own now in Robinson paperback (pounds 6.99), records how the tough sergeant in the Connaught Rangers (They call themselves the Devil's Own) is singled out to lead the first of his secret operations in the days leading to the Battle of the Alma.