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