he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon

proverb

One must be careful when dealing with bad people.

“January 17, 2017 CommunityNews Australia Labor should beware, though, of aligning itself with the dreadlocks and thumb-locks brigade – he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.”

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Meanings

proverb
  1. One must be careful when dealing with bad people.

    January 17, 2017 CommunityNews Australia Labor should beware, though, of aligning itself with the dreadlocks and thumb-locks brigade – he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.

Cite this entry
APA

he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/he%20who%20sups%20with%20the%20devil%20should%20have%20a%20long%20spoon

MLA

“he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/he%20who%20sups%20with%20the%20devil%20should%20have%20a%20long%20spoon. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/he%20who%20sups%20with%20the%20devil%20should%20have%20a%20long%20spoon.

Source: he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.