the devil is in the detail

A form of the devil is in the details — The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of the devil is in the details.
    1 more example

    The manifesto talks of safeguards to ensure that freight operators receive fair access to the network. These may be reassuring words for the likes of DB Cargo, but the devil will be in the detail and freight operators will no doubt be pressing for that detail to include cheaper electricity and access charges.

    2024 October 30, Andy Comfort, “Can the Royal Mail trains keep on running?”, in RAIL, number 1021, page 61
Cite this entry
APA

the devil is in the detail. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20detail

MLA

“the devil is in the detail.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20detail. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the devil is in the detail,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20detail.

Source: the devil is in the detail on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.