the devil you know

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the devil you know

A shortening of the proverb "better the devil you know than the devil you don't," meaning that, when forced to decide, it's better to choose a difficult or undesirable option that one is used to or familiar with rather than an unknown person or thing. A: "Why don't you just quit your job if you're so miserable?" B: "Well, I'm used to it at this point, and I worry that I'd feel the same way anywhere else. It's just the devil you know, I guess."
See also: devil, know
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

the devil you know

something or someone bad that you are familiar with and have accommodated yourself to or can cope with.
The expression is a shortened version of the proverb ‘Better the devil you know than the one you don't’.
See also: devil, know
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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