😈 The Devil to Pay 🔥
📚 Definition:
Serious trouble, a mess.
Origin & History:
The expression originally referred to making a bargain with the devil, and the payment that eventually would be exacted. It first appeared in print about 1400: “Be it wer be at tome for ay, than her to serve the devil to pay” (Reliquiare Antiquae). This Faustian type of trouble was later lightened to mean any kind of problem (Jonathan Swift, Journal to Stella, 1711: “The Earl of Strafford is to go soon to Holland . . . and then there will be the devil and all to pay”).
Nautical Twist:
In the nineteenth century, the expression was expanded to “the devil to pay and no pitch hot.” This form referred to “paying,” or caulking, a seam around a ship’s hull very near the waterline; it was called “the devil” because it was so difficult to reach. Sir Walter Scott used it in The Pirate (1821): “If they hurt but one hair of Cleveland’s head, there will be the devil to pay and no pitch hot.”
Related & Similar Terms
- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Similarly stressful situations with no favorable outcome.
- Faustian Bargain: Making a deal with worldly rewards but dire consequences (related to Goethe’s Faust).
- Hell to Pay: Synonym with less complexity but similar grave nuances.
Synonyms
- Serious trouble
- Quagmire
- Fiasco
Antonyms
- Smooth sailing
- Eutopia
- Nirvana
Humor-Filled Quote
“Just when you have tried everything, and you think you’ve devised a foolproof plan, remember there is the ever-annoying devil to remind you otherwise. Exhausting, isn’t it?!” - Elias Chuckleworthe
Proverbs
- “You reap what you sow.” Reflects the idea of facing the consequences of one’s actions, often in a grave manner.
Recommended Literature
- Goethe’s Faust: A crucial exploration into the soul-selling mythos.
- The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe: Another classic depiction of the dangers of making deals with the devil.
Movies
- Bedazzled (2000): A comical take on making a Faustian bargain, starring Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley.
- The Devil’s Advocate (1997): A modern thriller exploring the metaphorical ‘bargain with the devil.’
Get Quizzly! 🧠
Ahoy, reader! May you sail smoothly through the stormy seas of language, always prepared for those pesky devils lurking about.
Author: Faustus Quill (Published on 2023-10-23)
