| 单词 | speak of the devil |
| 释义 | > as lemmasspeak (also talk) of the devil l. speak (also talk) of the devil, and he will appear and variants: said when a person appears just after being mentioned. Frequently shortened to speak (also talk) of the devil. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection] > at appearance hey or high jingo!1670 speak (also talk) of the devil1738 where did you (also he, she, etc.) spring from?1892 1591 J. Lyly Endimion i. iii. sig. B4 O that we had Sir Tophas..in the midst of our myrth, & ecce autem, wyl you see the deuill?] 1666 G. Torriano Proverbial Phrases 134/2 in Piazza Universale The English say, Talk of the Devil, and he's presently at your elbow. 1672 M. Atkins Cataplus 72 Talk of the Devil and see his horns. 1702 M. Prior Hans Carvel in Coll. of Poems 449 Forthwith the Devil did appear, (For name him, and he's always near). 1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 299 Speak of the Dee'l, and he'll appear, spoken when they, of whom we are speaking, come in by Chance. 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 1 He's just coming towards us. Talk of the Devil. 1853 R. C. Trench On Lessons in Proverbs vi To talk as little about the devil..as they can; lest he appear. 1893 G. Allen Scallywag I. 10 Talk of the devil!—Here comes Thiselton! 1922 E. O'Neill Anna Christie (1923) i. 9 Speak of the devil. We was just talkin' about you. 1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana iii. iii. 136 ‘What's the matter, Hasselbacher?’ ‘Oh, it's you, Mr. Wormold. I was just thinking of you. Talk of the devil,’ he said, making a joke of it. 1962 J. Merseraeu M. Lermontov ix. 110 Whether Lermontov was consciously employing the old formula, ‘Speak of the Devil and he will appear,’ is difficult to say. 2011 Shenzhen Daily (Nexis) 25 July James! Speak of the devil! I was just asking someone if you were around. < as lemmas |
| 随便看 |
|
英语词典包含1132095条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。