| 词组 | play the devil |
| 释义 | (redirected from play the devil)play the devil with (something)To ruin or cause serious damage to something; to greatly upset, disrupt, or negatively affect something. Lack of oversight allowed overzealous investment bankers to play the devil with the economy. I love wine, but it plays the devil with my stomach! play the devil with somethingFig. to cause disruption with something; to foul something up. Your being late really played the devil with my plans for the day. This weather is really playing the devil with my arthritis. play the devil withUpset, ruin, make a mess of, as in This weather plays the devil with my aching joints, or Wine stains play the devil with a white tablecloth. This allusion to diabolical mischief is heard more in Britain than in America. [Mid-1500s] Also see the synonym play havoc. play the devil (or Old Harry) withdamage or affect greatly.Old Harry has been a nickname for the devil in northern England since the 18th century. play the devil with someone/somethingverbSee play hell with someone/something play the devil with To upset or ruin. |
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