| 释义 |
devil
noun- a barbiturate or other central nervous system depressant, especially Seconal US
A truncated form of RED DEVIL- I said, “If your sick father can part with at least two dozen devils, I’ll part with half a C-note.” — Iceberg Slim (Robert Beck), Trick Baby, p. 268, 1969
- the hallucinogen STP US
- — Eugene Landy, The Underground Dictionary, p. 65, 1971
- a printer’s apprentice or errand boy UK, 1683
- I was a printer’s devil when I was ten, and I stayed till I couldn’t work no more. — Lilian Jackson Braun, The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare, p. 99, 1988
- a white person US
- — Edith A. Folb, runnin’ down some lines, p. 234, 1980
- in craps, a seven US
- — Frank Scoblete, Guerrilla Gamblin, p. 305, 1993
▶ devil of a
an extreme (originally diabolical) example of something UK, 1767
May be used with “a” or “the”.- Hilary Mantel survived the devil of a girlhood and had to wrestle with serious illness. — The Independent, 10 May 2003
- We all know, when the gremlins get in there and affect your confidence, it’s a devil of a job to get them out. — The Guardian, 12 May 2003
▶ devil take him!; devil take you!; devil take me!; devil take it!
used for expressing anger, impatience, frustration UK, 1548 Often used with “the”.▶ go to the devil
to fall into ruin UK, 1460
From about 1460, although it is recorded in Latin more than a hundred years earlier.- Of course, all the scientific projects have gone to the devil and now I’m an avid reader only of Charlie and Freddie [Marx and Engels]. — Ernesto Che Guevara, Back On The Road (translated by Patrick Camiller), 1956
▶ go to the devil!
used as an angry expression of dismissal UK, 1859
If not an exclamation, certainly imperative.- Mr Mollemann was publicly none too pleased with the compliment. Mr Haider, he said, can “go to the devil”. — The Guardian, 31 May 2002
▶ how the devil!; what the devil!; when the devil!; where the devil!; who the devil!; why the devil!
used as an impatient intensification of how, what, when, where, who, why UK, 1489
In early uses “the Devil” was capitalised. “What the devil” since about 1385. “When the devil” since 1562. “Where the devil”, 1687. “Who the devil”, 1568. “Why the devil”, 1819.- Now how the devil did you know about Ballygowan? — Agatha Christie, At Bertram’s Hotel, 1965
- [W]hy the devil should there not be a debate across the country also? — Mr Straw, UK Parliament Hansard, 2 June 1998
- “He looked right down his nose at me,” Smith remembered, “like he was saying, ‘Who the devil are you?’” — The Observer, 25 August 2001
- When the devil will you start applying the laws of Pakistan to all its citizens, without favour to some? — The News International (Pakistan), 24 November 2001
- What the devil can you mean by that? — The Guardian, 25 June 2003
- The head honcho of a media group collared me at a function last week, playfully clipped me on the ear and tetchily asked where the devil I’d been for the past six months. — Sunday Times (South Africa), 23 March 2003
▶ little devil; young devil
used as a form of address UK, 1931
Often in tones of exasperation to, for instance, a wilful child; conspiratorial or playful to a (mischievous) adult.- You really had me going for a while, you little devil. — www.cannabisnews.com, 21 February 2001
▶ the devil made me do it!
used as a humorous excuse for misconduct US, 1970
A catchphrase made wildly popular by comedian Flip Wilson on The Flip Wilson Show (NBC, 1970–74). Repeated with referential humour.▶ the devil to pay; the devil and all to pay; the very devil to pay
very unpleasant consequences to face up to UK, 1733 An echo of Faust.- There’ll be the Devil to Pay: The Future of America’s Recovered Memory Movement is at Stake in a $35M Lawsuit — The Independent, 17 October 1994
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