Dictionary

sell one's soul en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From the medieval legend of Faust, who made a contract with the devil, exchanging his soul for worldly gains.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To abandon one's spiritual values or moral principles for wealth or other benefits.
   • After all, the South is where jazz and blues were invented. Where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil so he could play the licks that would become rock 'n' roll. 2005 June 29, Desa Philadelphia, “Crunk: Hip-Hop's Got a New Accent”, in Time, archived from the original on 05 Sep 2012:
   • He murmured in her ear. “You are Marguerite, for you could fire a man's heart so that he would sell his soul to gain you.” 1877, Charles Reade, chapter 3, in A Woman-Hater:
   • So I resolved to acquire a dog, and bought one from a prospector, who was stony-broke and would have sold his soul for a drink. 1910, John Buchan, chapter 3, in Prester John, London; Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons, →OCLC:
   • so this is it? I sold my soul for this? Washed my hands of that for this? I miss my mom and dad for this? 2012, Jeff Bhasker, Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, Jack Antonoff, “Some Nights”, in Some Nights), performed by fun.:
   • “David used to say he would sell his soul to be famous,” she says. “But he was also otherworldly – and you couldn’t take your eyes off him.” 2024 April 2, Sarfraz Manzoor, quoting Suzi Ronson, “‘Bowie said he’d sell his soul to be famous’: Suzi Ronson on sex, ruthless ambition – and dyeing David’s hair red”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Forms

Relateds

sell one's own grandmother · Faustian bargain · sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage

Synonyms

sell one's soul to the devil · sell one's soul to the Devil

Translations (5)

fr vendre son âme au diable (to abandon one's values or principles for other benefits) · ru прода́ть ду́шу (to abandon one's values or principles for other benefits) · fi myydä sielunsa (to abandon one's values or principles for other benefits) · pl sprzedać własną matkę (to abandon one's values or principles for other benefits) · gd reic anam ris an Donas (to abandon one's values or principles for other benefits)