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play the devil with. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
play the devil with, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
play the devil with in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
play the devil with you have here. The definition of the word
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play the devil with, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Verb
play the devil with (third-person singular simple present plays the devil with, present participle playing the devil with, simple past and past participle played the devil with)
- (colloquial) To cause great trouble or distress to.
- Synonyms: play the cat and banjo with, play merry havoc with, play merry hell with, play Old Harry with, play the deuce with, play the dickens with, play the mischief with
1937, Rupert Penny, The Talkative Policeman, page 166:There's a silly young fool; but perhaps it's not entirely his fault. The last six months of the war played the devil with many an unformed character.