Speak of the devil — here's Tom now!
speak of the devil
idiom B1
An expression sometimes used when a person mentioned in the current conversation happens to arrive on the scene.
Origin
disputed originShortened from the 17th-century superstition 'Speak of the Devil and he shall appear', a warning against naming the devil lest you summon him.
We were just talking about you, and — speak of the devil — you walked in.
I had just told my colleagues how much I admired the new director when, speak of the devil, she appeared in the doorway.
- 01
dance with the devil
To engage in risky and immoral behavior.
- 02
devil dancing
Risky, reckless or potentially immoral behavior.
- 03
devil in disguise
A person or thing that appears to be good, honest, or upstanding, but is inherently nasty, evil, or damaging.
- 04
devil lies in the details
Synonym of devil is in the details.
- 05
folk devil
A person or type of person blamed by the public for various ills, as during a moral panic.
- 06
give the devil his due
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
- 07
play the devil with
To cause great trouble or distress to.
- 08
speak for
To claim, reserve, or occupy.