Meanings
idle hands are the devil's workshop1
alternative idle hands are the Devil's workshop
- One who is idle will likely come to do evil.
Synonyms: idle hands are the devil's playthings, idle hands are the Devil's playthings, idle hands are the Devil's tools, idle hands are the devil's tools, idle hands make work for the devil, idle hands make work for the Devil, the devil finds work for idle hands, the Devil finds work for idle hands
idle hands are the Devil's workshop2
- Alternative letter-case form of idle hands are the devil's workshop.
Synonyms & antonyms
proverbOne who is idle will likely come to do evil.
Origin
This proverb is thought by some to originate from the Bible, the book of Proverbs chapter 16 verse 27 (Proverbs 16:27). Yet this is probably a misreading driven by an application of Protestant theological assumptions. The King James version of the verse refers only to ungodliness: An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. Only The Living Bible of 1971 injects the idea of idleness into its translation: Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece. (TLB also adds the literal translation: A worthless man devises mischief; and in his lips there is a scorching fire.) Proverbs 16:27 may have inspired St. Jerome to write in the late 4th century: fac et aliquid operis, ut semper te diabolus inveniat occupatum, or “engage in some occupation, so that the devil may always find you busy.” This was later repeated by Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales, which was probably the source of its popularity.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Danish lediggang er roden til alt ondt
- lediggang er roden til alt ondtOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Dutch luiheid is des duivels oorkussen
- luiheid is des duivels oorkussenOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Finnish joutilaat aivot ovat paholaisen työpaja
- joutilaat aivot ovat paholaisen työpajaOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
French l'oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices
- l'oisiveté est la mère de tous les vicesOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
German Müßiggang ist aller Laster Anfang
- Müßiggang ist aller Laster AnfangOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Greek αργία μητήρ πάσης κακίας, δουλειά δεν είχε ο διάβολος, γαμούσε τα παιδιά του
- αργία μητήρ πάσης κακίας (argía mitír pásis kakías)One who is idle will likely come to do evil
- δουλειά δεν είχε ο διάβολος, γαμούσε τα παιδιά του (douleiá den eíche o diávolos, gamoúse ta paidiá tou)One who is idle will likely come to do evil
- δουλειά δεν είχε ο διάβολος και έπνιγε τα παιδιά του (douleiá den eíche o diávolos kai épnige ta paidiá tou)One who is idle will likely come to do evil
Hindi ख़ाली दिमाग़ शैतान का घर
- ख़ाली दिमाग़ शैतान का घर (xālī dimāġ śaitān kā ghar)One who is idle will likely come to do evil
Irish cuireann an fear díomhaoin cathú ar an diabhal
- cuireann an fear díomhaoin cathú ar an diabhalOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Italian l'ozio è il padre dei vizi
- l'ozio è il padre dei viziOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Polish próżność doprowadza do zła
- próżność doprowadza do złaOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Portuguese mente vazia, oficina do diabo.
- mente vazia, oficina do diabo.One who is idle will likely come to do evil
Spanish cuando el diablo no tiene qué hacer, mata moscas con el rabo
- cuando el diablo no tiene qué hacer, mata moscas con el raboOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Vietnamese nhàn cư vi bất thiện
- nhàn cư vi bất thiệnOne who is idle will likely come to do evil
Cite this entry
idle hands are the devil's workshop. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idle%20hands%20are%20the%20devil's%20workshop
“idle hands are the devil's workshop.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idle%20hands%20are%20the%20devil's%20workshop. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “idle hands are the devil's workshop,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idle%20hands%20are%20the%20devil's%20workshop.
Source: idle hands are the devil's workshop on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.