Meaning of let the devil out | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To ward off bad luck.
2. To behave badly or cause to behave badly.

Examples

“After fifteen minutes you had to pierce a hole in the back of each shell, to let the devil out and the sauce in', and then you had to rinse them clean in the water in which they had boiled.”

“The baby yelled heartily at that event, prompting Grandma Ella van Heemstra to quote the Dutch maxim, “A good cry at the christening lets the devil out!””

“But for the bread to be lucky, you have to cut a cross on the top “to let the devil out,” as well as to release steam during cooking, a superstition that both the Irish and Irish Americans hold, Kinealy says.”

“He paused a moment to let logic sink in. Then he let the devil out. “You don't, I'm gonna punch you in the face, piss in your lobby, and shit in your kitchen..."”

“In other words, he does everything to break the shell of artificial niceness, politenes and emotional sterility of Dave's life. He deliberately makes him angry. He deliberately lets the devil out.”

“Maybe I/you need to let the devil out a little bit, acknowledge those “base” urges.”

CEFR level