devil of a time
a difficult task
TRANSLATION
devil of a time = eine schwierige Aufgabe bzw. Lage --- GOOGLE INDEX devil of a time: approximately 150,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Technology entrepreneurs are having a DEVIL OF A TIME finding investors.
(Wall Street Journal)
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The source says Google is having a DEVIL OF A TIME persuading users of free Google Apps to sign up for the paid version.
(businessinsider.com)
(Wall Street Journal)
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The source says Google is having a DEVIL OF A TIME persuading users of free Google Apps to sign up for the paid version.
(businessinsider.com)
Did you
know?
devil of a time
idiom
- something that is very trying and provoking
(Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary)
---
The expression "devil of a time" stems from the idea of comparing something with Satan (the devil), who of course exemplifies evil. For example, the old phrase "a devil of a man" was a condemnation of the worst sort. Today, "a devil of" is used in less dramatic fashion and is generally reserved for annoying tasks (I had a devil of a time programming the remote control for the TV).
Despite his evil reputation, the devil enjoys popularity when it comes to idioms as these examples of other expressions shows:
- between the devil and the deep blue sea = between two equally unacceptable choices
- full of the devil = very energetic, mischievous, daring or clever
- give the devil his due = to give credit to a disagreeable person
- go to the devil = (1) to be unsuccessful, to fail (2) to become morally evil (3) used in the imperative to express anger or impatience
- play the devil with = to upset or ruin
- the devil take the hindmost = let each person follow self-interest, leaving others to fare as they may
- the devil to pay = trouble to be faced as a result of an action
---
SYNONYMS
a hell of a time, a heck of a time, a dickens of a time
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION
"I had a devil of a time trying to get to the office on time this morning. Traffic was terrible!"
idiom
- something that is very trying and provoking
(Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary)
---
The expression "devil of a time" stems from the idea of comparing something with Satan (the devil), who of course exemplifies evil. For example, the old phrase "a devil of a man" was a condemnation of the worst sort. Today, "a devil of" is used in less dramatic fashion and is generally reserved for annoying tasks (I had a devil of a time programming the remote control for the TV).
Despite his evil reputation, the devil enjoys popularity when it comes to idioms as these examples of other expressions shows:
- between the devil and the deep blue sea = between two equally unacceptable choices
- full of the devil = very energetic, mischievous, daring or clever
- give the devil his due = to give credit to a disagreeable person
- go to the devil = (1) to be unsuccessful, to fail (2) to become morally evil (3) used in the imperative to express anger or impatience
- play the devil with = to upset or ruin
- the devil take the hindmost = let each person follow self-interest, leaving others to fare as they may
- the devil to pay = trouble to be faced as a result of an action
---
SYNONYMS
a hell of a time, a heck of a time, a dickens of a time
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION
"I had a devil of a time trying to get to the office on time this morning. Traffic was terrible!"
