# play the devil with

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-the-devil-with
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To cause great trouble or distress to.

## Examples

- This bad weather is playing the devil with my travel plans.
- The constant technical errors are playing the devil with our team's ability to finish the project on time.
- The sudden economic downturn played the devil with the company's long-term investments, forcing them to liquidate several major assets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.