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Meaning of the devil makes work for idle hands | Babel Free

Phrase CEFR C2

Definitions

Synonym of idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Equivalents

Ελληνικά δουλειά δεν είχε ο διάβολος και έπνιγε τα παιδιά του δουλειά δεν είχε ο διάβολος, γαμούσε τα παιδιά του

Examples

“‘[…] We’re self-sufficient in food now too: sheep and cattle graze on the island, and we grow ⟳ our own ⟳ vegetables and corn at the agricultural station at Longridge, about a mile inland from here.’ / ‘And the convicts do all this?’ asked Fallon. / Price nodded. ‘It keeps them out of trouble ⟳. You know ⟳ what they say ⟳: the Devil makes work ⟳ for idle hands![…]’”

““My brother, a mobster?” / “That’s right. Mike, we were wasting our time with that piece meal—one job every six months—line. You know ⟳ what they say ⟳ ‘the Devil makes work ⟳ for idle hands.’[…]””

““You’ve been busy since we were at school together.” / “Well you know ⟳ what they say ⟳: the Devil makes work ⟳ for idle hands.[…]””

CEFR level

C2

Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See all C2 English words →

See also

the Devil take the hindmost the devil to pay and no pitch hot or ready the devil you say the dickens you say the die is cast the dog ate my homework

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