# speak of the devil and he shall appear

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/speak-of-the-devil-and-he-shall-appear
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Alternative form of speak of the devil.

## Examples

- Speak of the devil and he shall appear, there is John now.
- We were just talking about our boss when he walked in; speak of the devil and he shall appear.
- As they discussed the rival candidate's sudden arrival, the man himself entered the room, proving that speak of the devil and he shall appear remains a fitting observation.

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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.