Phrase guide

the devil is in the details

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

In allusion to God is in the detail.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 關鍵在細節,細節決定成敗 /关键在细节 — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Chinese Mandarin: 细节决定成败 (guānjiàn zài xìjié, xìjié juédìng chéngbài) — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Dutch: de duivel zit in de details — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Finnish: piru asuu yksityiskohdissa — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • French: le diable se cache dans les détails — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • German: der Teufel steckt im Detail — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • German: der Teufel liegt im Detail — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Greek: ο διάβολος κρύβεται στις λεπτομέρειες (o diávolos krývetai stis leptoméreies) — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Hungarian: az ördög a részletekben rejlik — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Italian: il diavolo è nei dettagli — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Italian: il diavolo si nasconde nei dettagli — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Japanese: 悪魔は細部に宿る — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Polish: diabeł tkwi w szczegółach — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Portuguese: o diabo mora nos detalhes — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Romanian: teoria ca teoria, dar practica ne omoară — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Romanian: socoteala de acasă nu se potrivește cu cea din târg — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Romanian: dracu-i în amănunte ascuns. — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Russian: гла́дко бы́ло на бума́ге, да забы́ли про овра́ги (gládko býlo na bumáge, da zabýli pro ovrági) — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Spanish: el diablo está en los detalles — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Swedish: djävulen sitter i detaljerna — specific provisions of something may be complicated
  • Turkish: şeytan ayrıntıda gizlidir — specific provisions of something may be complicated