Start networking and exchanging professional insights

Register now or log in to join your professional community.

Follow

What do you understand by "better the devil you know"?

user-image
Question added by Deleted user
Date Posted: 2014/09/01
Ismi Puji Hastuti
by Ismi Puji Hastuti , English Teacher , SMK Widya Taruna

It is used to suggest for choosing familiar something/ situation even unconvinient than deal with something new/ change with a risk leading to the worse one. 

 

Fadiah Maghrbi
by Fadiah Maghrbi , Account Executive & Content Creator , Creverse Global Marketing Group

Dealing with something or someone you're familiar with even if it's horrible is better than dealing with something or someone else that is also horrible. At least when you're familiar with something it makes the expectations and cautions higher.

amany said
by amany said , مدرسة لغة انجليزية , مدرسة عمر بن الخطاب التجريبية للغات

The full phrase is "better the devil you know than the devil you don't". It means that it is better to deal with a person or or choose an option you know, even if it is not what you would most like, than it is to deal with someone you know nothing about or an option with which you have no experience. In other words, known things are to be preferred over the unknown -- even if they are not ideal.

 

Vinod Jetley
by Vinod Jetley , Assistant General Manager , State Bank of India

This is the shortened form of the full idiom, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't', and means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if they are not ideal, than take a risk with an unknown person or thing.

Deleted user
by Deleted user

Better deal with the people you know and are aware of their capabilities rather than people you don't know and are not aware of what they are capable of. 

Ijaz Ahmed Sheikh
by Ijaz Ahmed Sheikh , English Language instructor , City School

said when you think it is wiser to deal with someone familiar, although you do not like them, than to deal with someone who you do not know, who might be worse

Haseeb Khalid
by Haseeb Khalid , Sales and Promotion Manager. , Medi Urge

commonly referred as It is better to deal with something bad you know than with something new you don't know. better the devil you know than the devil you don't'.

Deleted user
by Deleted user

"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know." Meaning it's easier to deal with something you know and are familiar with since it brings no risk.

Louise Abouzid
by Louise Abouzid , Kg Teacher , Orascom Language School

Sometimes it is better to stay with familar surroundings or people rather than exchange them for something you dont know

VENKITARAMAN KRISHNA MOORTHY VRINDAVAN
by VENKITARAMAN KRISHNA MOORTHY VRINDAVAN , Project Execution Manager & Accounts Manager , ALI INTERNATIONAL TRADING EST.

Choose to deal with a Familiar one instead of an Unknown even though he is unrealistic.

Mohammed Muqdad
by Mohammed Muqdad , Sales Consultant , Sardar group

trust should be earned so it means that be careful who is you going to trust

More Questions Like This

Do you need help in adding the right keywords to your CV? Let our CV writing experts help you.