I met a couple of friends for drinks yesterday afternoon. One was already there when I arrived and he asked if the other friend had come with me. I told him no, and he said he hoped that he hadn\u2019t forgotten, because it had been a long time since we had gotten together. He had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth when the second friend arrived and he said \u201cspeak of the devil\u2026.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpeak of the devil\u201d is something I\u2019ve heard, and used, all my life. It\u2019s kind of a curious phrase, since it\u2019s usually used when referring to friends.
I wondered how did it originate and how did it come into popular use\u2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not surprisingly, like most idioms, \u201cspeak of the devil\u201d doesn\u2019t have a clear, defined origin. But it appears to have originated from an old proverb that cautioned against mentioning the devil, because it was believed to invoke his presence. In medieval England, people had superstitions about the power of words and believed that naming the devil could summon him. A number of variations of the idea appeared in multiple languages and cultures \u2014 often as warnings against speaking of evil or dangerous entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The original expression was longer \u2014 something like \u201cSpeak of the devil, and he will appear,\u201d or as the English say, \u201cTalk of the devil, and he\u2019s presently at your elbow.\u201d The phrase was used as a literal warning rooted in superstition. But over time, its meaning evolved and became more lighthearted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The phrase became increasingly common, particularly in informal conversation. It shed its superstitious origins and came to mean something more like: \u201cWe were just talking about you, and here your are!\u201d When its used today it\u2019s recognized an an idiom with no serious connection to its original darker origins.
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I met a couple of friends for drinks yesterday afternoon. One was already there when I arrived and he asked if the other friend had come with me. I told him no, and he said he hoped that he hadn\u2019t … Continue reading