The idiom “Better the devil you know” suggests sticking with a familiar but unpleasant situation rather than risking an unknown alternative. It uses the devil as a metaphor for the negative connotations associated with the unknown. This idiom is a type of proverb that aims to give advice to the listener.
“Better the devil you know” is an English idiom. It is used to suggest that, when faced with two choices, it is best to stick with something familiar even if unpleasant. This is because the alternative, unknown, could be much worse than the current situation. When using this idiom, many speakers often complete the sentence by saying, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know.” The phrase gets its power from the negative connotations associated with the devil, a figure generally considered to personify all things evil in cultures where Christianity is common.
If a person uses a phrase that has become popular because it has been used by many people over a long period of time, they are using an idiom. An idiom generally takes a slightly larger than life situation and uses it metaphorically to describe a real situation. Many of these idioms can be considered proverbs, as they aim to give advice to the listener.
When the phrase “best the devil you know” is used, people are referring to choosing between two alternatives. The first option is something the person making the choice has already experienced; he or she probably knows it’s a bit unpleasant or difficult. Conversely, the other alternative is something that may or may not be superior to family choice. Someone using the phrase is essentially saying that the unfamiliar choice is a greater risk than the person is already experiencing.
As an example of a fitting context for the sentence, one might imagine a man having the opportunity to get a new job. His current job involves a boss who annoys the man, but by the same token, the man has learned to deal with him on a daily basis. Conversely, the new job can bring up any number of new problems that could be far more damaging to the man than the nagging boss. The boss is the devil he knows, while the unexpected situation surrounding his new job is the devil he doesn’t know.
What makes the phrase “best the devil you know” so powerful is its inclusion of the devil to describe the two situations. This is an obvious exaggeration for effect, as the devil is associated with eternal torment and endless misery. The situations that cause this phrase to be uttered aren’t all that bad, but the phrase hints at the possible unpleasantness involved.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
