English Idiom – Speak of the devil (or talk of the devil).
Said when the person you’re talking about suddenly appears. It can also be used when something you’re talking about suddenly happens.
The full phrase is speak of the devil and he shall appear. Long ago, people believed that talking about the devil could summon him – or at least bring bad luck! Today it’s light-hearted and usually just means “What a coincidence – here they are!”
Other Devil Expressions:
- Better the devil you know (idiom) – something familiar is better than something unknown.
- Between the devil and the deep blue sea (idiom) – having to choose between two bad options.
- Crafty devil – a cunning or sneaky person.
- Devil’s advocate (idiom) – arguing against an idea, even if you agree with it, for the sake of debate.
- Devil-may-care – relaxed and careless about risks.
- Lucky devil – a very fortunate person.
- Idle hands are the devil’s tools (proverb) – people with nothing to do often get into trouble.
Usage:
- Someone you’re talking about suddenly arrives.
- You’re gossiping about someone and they walk in.
- You’re discussing the weather and it suddenly starts to rain.
Example:
- “I wonder if Jack will come to the party… Oh, speak of the devil! Here he is!”
Learn More
Look it upSpeak of the devilWiktionaryWhat 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 said when the person you are talking about suddenly appears.
“Speak of the devil and he shall appear.” Today the short version is much more common.
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