English Idiom – Better the devil you know.
This idiom is a shortened version of better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
Something bad but familiar is better than something unknown, which might be even worse. It’s often wiser to deal with a person or situation you already know, flaws and all, than to take a risk on something new.
We often use it to explain a decision that isn’t ideal: staying in a job you don’t love, or using the same builder again even though last time wasn’t perfect.
Devil Idioms:
- Devil’s advocate – arguing for an opposing or unpopular view for the sake of argument.
- Speak of the devil – said when the person you’re talking about suddenly appears.
Usage:
- Choosing someone to provide a service for you.
- Deciding whether to find a new job or stay where you are.
- Deciding which takeaway to order food from!
Examples:
- Daniel: “Who are you going to ask to design your new menu?”
- Jessica: “I guess I’ll ask Dave again. His design wasn’t perfect last time, but it’s better the devil you know.”
- Peter: “Shall we find a new mechanic to fix the car?”
- Ryan: “No, let’s use the same one as last time. Better the devil you know – there are so many dishonest mechanics in this town!”
Learn More
Look it upBetter the devil you knowWiktionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is better to deal with something or someone familiar, even if not perfect, than to risk something unknown that could be worse.
“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”
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