Skip to content
TrueNorthBriefQuick, clear answers for curious Canadians
Culture

Devil In Disguise

What is devil in disguise?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Part of speech idiomatic[1]
Singular form devil in disguise[1]
Plural form devils in disguise[1]
Meaning a person or thing that appears to be good, honest, or upstanding, but is inherently nasty, evil, or damaging[1]
Meaning something or someone that appears to be good, useful, or benevolent, but in reality proves to be the opposite[1]
Meaning someone who appears harmless or well-intentioned, but in reality has malicious motives or is up to no good[2]

A devil in disguise is an idiom for a person or thing that appears good, harmless, or honest but is actually evil, harmful, or deceptive. It is used figuratively to warn that outward appearances can hide malicious intent.

Context

A devil in disguise is an idiom describing someone or something that appears good, harmless, or honest but is actually evil, harmful, or deceptive [1]. It is used figuratively to warn that appearances can be misleading [2]. The phrase is often confused with 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' and the song title 'Devil in Disguise' [3].

Documented claims

  • The phrase is used figuratively, not literally. [2]
  • It functions as a warning about deceptive appearances. [2]
  • It is commonly confused with 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' and the song title 'Devil in Disguise'. [3]

Related

  • Devil MovieEn läsare som söker information om 'devil in disguise' kan vara intresserad av en film som direkt handlar om djävulen i mänsklig gestalt.
  • Sympathy For The DevilEn låt med 'devil' i titeln som skildrar djävulen som en närvarande, förklädd figur är en relevant kulturell referens för ämnet.

Questions and answers

What does the saying 'devil in disguise' mean?

It means a person or thing that appears good or harmless but is actually evil or deceptive [2].

Is 'devil in disguise' used literally?

No, it is used figuratively, not literally [2].

What is 'devil in disguise' commonly confused with?

It is commonly confused with 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' and the song title 'Devil in Disguise' [3].

Sources

  1. Devil in Disguise Idiom - Meaning and Example Usage in Sentences — englishteststore.net (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. What Is The Origin Of The Phrase The Devil In Disguise? - GoodNovel — goodnovel.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. DEVIL IN DISGUISE meaning: Deceptive person hiding true nature — onelook.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Culture