Serious Trouble: The Devil to Pay 😈
Ahoy, brave phrase explorers! Today, we take on “the devil to pay,” an idiom that metaphorically puts the fear of Lucifer in anyone who hears it. Whether you’re in the depths of a pickle or the thick of a quagmire, knowing this cliché might safely navigate you through both hellish bargains and everyday snafus.
Origin Insight:
Originally, this ominous idiom was about forging a pact with the devil himself. The Faustian drama first surfaced around the 1400s—truly, the Middle Ages brought their A-game in dread!
“Be it wer be at tome for ay, than her to serve the devil to pay.” — Reliquiae Antiquae, c. 1400
Fast-forward to Jonathan Swift’s Journal to Stella (1711), where “the devil and all to pay” would shadow every impending fiasco, as evidenced by political strife in Swift’s lines.
Not-So-Dusty Shelf: Seafaring to Satan 🏴☠️
By the 19th century, sailors added nautical flair with “the devil to pay and no pitch hot.” Yes, sailors were masterful lingo-lubricators! This expanded phrase was about caulking seams of a ship—specifically the ones dangerous to access, just above the waterline (conveniently called “the devil”).
“If they hurt but one hair of Cleveland’s head, there will be the devil to pay and no pitch hot.” — Sir Walter Scott, The Pirate (1821)
This brings us full circle from Hades to high seas and back.
Related and Similar Terms:
- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Facing two equally dangerous choices.
- Bargain with the Devil: Making morally dubious choices thinking short-term gain, ignoring the long-term consequences.
- Hell to Pay: Serious repercussions or trouble.
Kissin’ Cousins (Synonyms)
- Catch-22
- Rock and hard place
- Bind
- Fix
Antonym Alert 🚨:
- Cakewalk
- Breeze
- Easy street
Quote Quirks 🤓:
“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” — H.G. Wells
Good Reads and Views 📚🎥:
For those of you yearning for page-turners or movie delights:
- Literature: Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Devil and Daniel Webster by Stephen Vincent Benét
- Movies: “Bedazzled” (1967, 2000)
- Songs: “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones
- Poetry: “The Devil’s Thoughts” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Now, time to see if you can suss out the devilish details with these engaging quizzes:
Until next time, may your wordy wanderings be devilishly delightful and perilously pleasing. 차오!
In parting thoughts, remember to heed G.K. Chesterton’s advice:
“Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”
Keep soaring, phrase-catchers.
— Melanie L. Metaphor, 2023
