Dictionary

the devil is in the details en · X

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

In allusion to God is in the detail.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
   • The country has developed a strong consensus for peace, but the devil is in the details over what concessions should be made. 1998 December 16, Alain L. Sanders, “Israel: Let the People Speak”, in Time, archived from the original on 08 Apr 2009:
   • “The devil will be in the details,” said Sarah Myers West, managing director of AI Now Institute, a policy research center. 2023 May 16, Cecilia Kang, quoting Sarah Myers West, “OpenAI’s Sam Altman Urges A.I. Regulation in Senate Hearing”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • Krupp already has an agreement in principle for the deal, but precise details are still being worked out by Polish officials and a Krupp bargaining team ("The devil is in the details," Beitz says). 1965, Newsweek, volume 65, page 173:

Forms

Translations (21)

ro socoteala de acasă nu se potrivește cu cea din târg (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · pl diabeł tkwi w szczegółach (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · it il diavolo si nasconde nei dettagli (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · es el diablo está en los detalles (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · ru гла́дко бы́ло на бума́ге, да забы́ли про овра́ги (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · fr le diable se cache dans les détails (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · sv djävulen sitter i detaljerna (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · fi piru asuu yksityiskohdissa (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · nl de duivel zit in de details (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · el ο διάβολος κρύβεται στις λεπτομέρειες (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · cmn 细节决定成败 (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · ro dracu-i în amănunte ascuns. (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · ja 悪魔は細部に宿る (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · tr şeytan ayrıntıda gizlidir (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · cmn 關鍵在細節，細節決定成敗 /关键在细节 (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · pt o diabo mora nos detalhes (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · ro teoria ca teoria, dar practica ne omoară (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · de der Teufel liegt im Detail (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · hu az ördög a részletekben rejlik (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · de der Teufel steckt im Detail (specific provisions of something may be complicated) · it il diavolo è nei dettagli (specific provisions of something may be complicated)