1
- （一般作the Devil）(in Christian and Jewish belief) the supreme spirit of evil; Satan.（基督教和犹太教中的）魔王; 撒旦。
1.1
- an evil spirit; a demon恶魔; 魔鬼。
1.2
- a very wicked or cruel person恶棍; 残忍的人：
they prefer voting for devils than for decent men.
他们宁愿投票选恶棍也不愿选正派人。
1.3
- a mischievously clever or self-willed person淘气鬼; 任性的人：
the cunning old devil is up to something.
那个狡猾的老淘气又要捣鬼了。
1.4
- with adj. informal a person with specified characteristics〈非正式〉有一定特征的人; 家伙：
the poor devil
可怜的家伙
a lucky devil.
幸运儿。
1.5
the devil
fighting spirit; wildness好勇斗狠的锐气; 野性：he was dangerous when the devil was in him.
当他野性发作时就会变得很危险。
1.6
the devil
a thing that is very difficult or awkward to do or deal with极难做的事; 极难处理的事：it's going to be the very devil to disentangle.
要理清纠结在一起的是非曲直真是难透了。
2
- (the devil) expressing surprise or annoyance in various questions or exclamations究竟, 到底［用于问句或感叹句表示惊奇或恼怒］：
'Where the devil is he?'
“他到底在哪儿？”
3
- an instrument or machine, especially one fitted with sharp teeth or spikes, used for tearing or other destructive work扯碎机, 切碎机。
4
- informal, dated a junior assistant of a barrister or other professional〈非正式, 旧〉（出庭律师或其他专业人士的）助手。参见PRINTER'S DEVIL.
5
- Austral. short for TASMANIAN DEVIL.〈澳〉TASMANIAN DEVIL的简称。
(devilled, devilling; <美> deviled, deviling)
1
- no obj. informal, dated act as a junior assistant for a barrister or other professional〈非正式, 旧〉给（出庭律师或其他专业人士）当助手。
2
- with obj. N. Amer. harass or worry (someone)〈北美〉困扰; 使（某人）担忧：
he was deviled by a new-found fear.
他为新出现的恐惧所困扰。
短语
be a devil!
- informal said when encouraging someone to do something that they are hesitating to do〈非正式〉干吧［用于鼓励某人去做其正在迟疑不决是否要做的事情］：
'Go on, be a devil and stop being so staid!'
“来, 干吧。别那么犹犹豫豫了！”
between the devil and the deep blue sea
- caught in a dilemma进退两难。
- ORIGIN: alluding to two equally dangerous alternatives; also as between the devil and the dead sea and between the devil and the deep sea.
devil a -
- archaic not even one or any〈古〉连一个也没有：
the devil a man of you stirred himself over it.
你们谁都没有为这事干点什么。
the devil can quote scripture for his purpose
- proverb people may conceal unworthy motives by reciting words that sound morally authoritative〈谚〉口蜜腹剑; 人们可以用冠冕堂皇的话来掩饰不良动机。
- ORIGIN: with allusion to the Temptation.
the devil finds work for idle hands to do
- proverb if someone doesn't have enough work to occupy them, they are liable to cause or get into trouble〈谚〉一闲生百邪; 游手好闲, 魔鬼来缠。
the devil looks after his own
- proverb success or good fortune often seem to come to those who least deserve it〈谚〉坏蛋背后鬼撑腰; 成功（或好运）往往会光顾最不应得到它的人。
devil-may-care
- cheerful and reckless兴高采烈而又毫无顾虑的：
light-hearted, devil-may-care young pilots.
无忧无虑、不顾一切的年轻飞行员们。
a devil of a -
- informal used to emphasize great size or degree〈非正式〉［用于加强语气］极大的; 程度极深的：
photographic equipment costs a devil of a lot.
照相器材要花好多钱。
the devil's dozen
- thirteen十三。
the devil's in the detail
- the details of a matter are its most problematic aspect细节之处最容易出问题。
the devil to pay
- serious trouble to be dealt with要处理的大麻烦。
the devil's own -
- informal used to emphasize the difficulty or seriousness of something〈非正式〉［用于加强语气］很困难的; 很严重的; 非同小可的：
he was in the devil's own hurry.
他极其匆忙。
every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost
- 见MAN.
give the devil his due
- proverb if someone or something generally considered bad or undeserving has any redeeming features these should be acknowledged〈谚〉如坏人（或坏事）有其好的一面也应承认; 公正持平地看待坏人（或坏事）。
go to the devil!
- said in angry rejection or condemnation of someone滚开！见鬼去吧！
like the devil
- with great speed or energy飞快地; 拼命地; 全力地：
he drove like the devil.
他车开得飞快。
play the devil with
- have a damaging or disruptive effect on破坏; 弄糟：
this brandy plays the devil with one's emotions!
这种白兰地喝了会让人情绪变糟！
speak（或talk）of the devil
- said when a person appears just after being mentioned刚提到某人, 某人就出现了; 说到曹操, 曹操就到。
- ORIGIN: from the superstition that the devil will appear if his name is spoken.
词源
Old English dēofol （related to Dutch duivel and German Teufel）， via late Latin from Greek diabolos 'accuser， slanderer' （used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew śātān 'Satan'）， from diaballein 'to slander'， from dia 'across' + ballein 'to throw'.