sup with the devil

sup with the devil

To associate or deal with a particularly malicious, immoral, or unscrupulous person or people; to commit malicious, immoral, or unscrupulous acts. ("Sup" means to eat or have supper.) Primarily heard in UK. Once considered one of the most straight-laced politicians in England, it's come to light that the former Health Secretary has been supping with the devil for years, giving pharmaceutical companies special privileges in exchange for sizable kickbacks. She has been accused of supping with the devil after the activist was spotted having dinner with the CEO of one of the conglomerations her charity opposes.
See also: devil, sup
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sup (or dine) with the devil

have dealings with a cunning or malevolent person.
The proverb he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon is used especially to urge someone dealing with a person of this type to take care.
See also: devil, sup
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • dine with the devil
  • he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon
  • sup
  • slimeball
  • slime bucket
  • slimebag
  • slime bag
  • don't speak ill of the dead
  • you shouldn't speak ill of the dead
References in periodicals archive
Sam and Isaac stomp off hand-in-hand, leaving Manny to wander the streets, ruminating on the old adage "if you sup with the devil, use a long spoon".
USE a long spoon to sup with the devil should be the diplomatic advice when Donald Trump is welcomed to Britain for the 75th commemoration of D-Day.
Well sadly this does not wash and the reality Coun Woodwark is that when you sup with the devil, you must be prepared to accept the consequences.
WHEN you sup with the devil, you must use a very long spoon, as Theresa May has discovered.
Those who sup with the devil must use a very long spoon.
To pursue his ideals he's willing to sup with the devil.
Steph is going into business with Paul Robinson (bring a spoon, Steph, a very long spoon to sup with the Devil), but his investment from Doug goes awry when Brad finds out and tears up the cheque.
As early as 1994, special Vatican envoys went to Tehran and Tripoli to enlist their support--to "sup with the devil," as Washington Post columnist Jim Hoagland put it--and alliances since then have included Iran and Libya as well as Syria, Egypt and other countries that do not support full human rights for women.
It is man's soul, ever curious, ever in turmoil, which keeps trying to lead him astray, while it is his body, ever frail, ever conscious of its limitations, which insists on bringing along the long spoon when it's time to sup with the devil. The soul is ethereal, dreamy, romantic, libertarian, even at times a Democrat, ready to sign disarmament pacts and to frequent vegan restaurants.
They get so blinded by the urge to please their foreign sponsors that even if it means supping with the devil without a long spoon, they will still sup with the devil. And only when they get bitten, do they realise the dangerous game they had been playing with the devil.zl am reminded of this by what has happened to the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor.
When they agreed to form the Coalition, they decided to sup with the devil - without taking a long spoon."
His first encounter immediately dispelled his father's words of caution - "when you sup with the devil make sure you do it with a long spoon" - as Lord Huntingdon, at the time trainer to the Queen, not only was warm and welcoming to this newcomer to the sport, but acquired for him one of Her Majesty's cast-offs for just 9,000gns.
Amongst those measures was a pragmatic willingness to sup with the devil, Stalin, in order to defeat Nazism.
The Lib Dems should remember that when you sup with the devil, you need a long spoon.
WHEN you sup with the Devil, the old saying goes, use a long spoon.