skinny steve

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where does the phrase "better the devil you know, than the devil you dont "come from?

i know what the meaning is, but where does it come from?

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0 Views: 1249 Answers: 1 Posted: 12 years ago

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Deleted User

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Best answer!

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

It is of Irish origin.

12 years ago. Rating: 6
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Deleted User

which is a quote by the Elizabethan
English author, Richard Taverner. It's a proverb of Irish origin and
it first appeared a collection of sayings Taverner published in 1539.

commented 12 years ago

skinny steve

thank you wonderdyke.It is a phrase i often hear but was curious as to its origins, i thought it might have been a corruption of a phrase from the bible(?). I shall now go and find about Richard Taverner.

commented 12 years ago

Deleted User

Steve if you google its origin it comes up with the info you are looking for , you are more than welcome :)

commented 12 years ago