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b. 1688, d. 1744. Pope [quoted in Annandale]. The things we know are neither rich nor rare; But wonder how the devil they got there.
1776. David Garrick, Bon Ton, or High Life Above Stairs, Act ii., Sc. 1. Sir. T. Why, what the devil do you make one at these masqueradings.
1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belle's Stratagem, Act i., Sc. 3. Har. Who the devil could have foreseen that?
1827. R. B. Peake, Comfortable Lodgings, Act i, Sc. 3. What the devil is all this about?
1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge [Ry. ed. 1860], p. 134. How the devil can you get anything out of an empty vessel?
To play the devil with, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To ruin or molest.
1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 46. The passions, as I've said, are far from evil, But if not well confined they play the devil.
To pull the devil by the tail, phr. (colloquial).—To go to ruin headlong; also to be reduced to one's last shift. Cf., To play the devil with.
1890. European Mail, 2 Aug., p. 30, col. 2. The immense disproportion between the solid assets and the liabilities of the enterprise made experienced Parisian financiers say from the first that the company was pulling the devil by the tail, and a perusal of M. Monchicourt's report must confirm this view.
To whip the devil round the stump, verb. phr. (American).—To enjoy the sweets of wickedness and yet escape the penalty.
1857. New York Evening Post, While Mr. Jones is describing his wants in the money line, and telling the president how near through he is, that officer is carrying on a mental addition it may be after this manner: Jones, you're a clever fellow, but Smith tells me you are engaged in a coal-stock operation. I have heard also that you have been dabbling in Erie. There is a want of candor now, I perceive, in the statement of your affairs. There, you are now whipping the devil around the stump: I see his foot.
1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 187. Nor is the slang phrase: to whip the devil around the stump to be traced very clearly to the backwoods.
1872. Haldeman, Pennsylvania Dutch. I whipped the devil round the stump, And gave a cut at every jump.
Haul devil, pull baker, phr. (colloquial).—To contend with varying fortunes. In the sense of endeavouring to overreach, a variant is diamond cut diamond.
1889. Cornhill Mag., July, p. 99. I can't get proper accounts from her; and it's a regular case of pull devil, pull baker, whenever I want to look at the trades-people's books.
And the devil knows what or who, phr. (colloquial).—A term used vaguely and indefinitely to include details not specifically mentioned or known.
1717. Mrs. Centlivre, A Bold Stroke for a Wife, Act iii., Sc. 1. Per. Why, what a pack of trumpery has this rogue picked up! His pagod, poluflosboio, his zonos moros musphonons, and the devil knows what.
To go to the devil, phr. (colloquial).—To go to rack and ruin. Go to the devil! = begone! A summary form of dismissal with no heed as to what may become of the person who is sent about his business.
1801. T. Dibdin, The Birthday, Act i., Sc. 2. Capt. Hold your tongue, Junk; you are a libellous rascal. You, and your box, too, may go to the devil.
To hold a light or candle to, or burn a candle before, the devil, phr. (colloquial).—To propitiate through fear; to assist or wink at wrong doing. Shakspeare (Merchant of Venice, Act ii., Sc. 6), employs 'What! must
