Meanings
alternative the devil is in the detail
- idiomaticThe specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
The country has developed a strong consensus for peace, but the devil is in the details over what concessions should be made.
1998 December 16, Alain L. Sanders, “Israel: Let the People Speak”, in Time, archived from the original on 08 Apr 20092 more examples
Krupp already has an agreement in principle for the deal, but precise details are still being worked out by Polish officials and a Krupp bargaining team ("The devil is in the details," Beitz says).
1965, Newsweek, volume 65, page 173“The devil will be in the details,” said Sarah Myers West, managing director of AI Now Institute, a policy research center.
2023 May 16, Cecilia Kang, quoting Sarah Myers West, “OpenAI’s Sam Altman Urges A.I. Regulation in Senate Hearing”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
Origin
In allusion to God is in the detail.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 關鍵在細節，細節決定成敗 /关键在细节, 细节决定成败
- 關鍵在細節，細節決定成敗 /关键在细节specific provisions of something may be complicated
- 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
- de duivel zit in de detailsspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Finnish piru asuu yksityiskohdissa
- piru asuu yksityiskohdissaspecific provisions of something may be complicated
French le diable se cache dans les détails
- le diable se cache dans les détailsspecific provisions of something may be complicated
German der Teufel steckt im Detail, der Teufel liegt im Detail
- der Teufel steckt im Detailspecific provisions of something may be complicated
- der Teufel liegt im Detailspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Greek ο διάβολος κρύβεται στις λεπτομέρειες
- ο διάβολος κρύβεται στις λεπτομέρειες (o diávolos krývetai stis leptoméreies)specific provisions of something may be complicated
Hungarian az ördög a részletekben rejlik
- az ördög a részletekben rejlikspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Italian il diavolo è nei dettagli, il diavolo si nasconde nei dettagli
- il diavolo è nei dettaglispecific provisions of something may be complicated
- il diavolo si nasconde nei dettaglispecific provisions of something may be complicated
Japanese 悪魔は細部に宿る
- 悪魔は細部に宿るspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Polish diabeł tkwi w szczegółach
- diabeł tkwi w szczegółachspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Portuguese o diabo mora nos detalhes
- o diabo mora nos detalhesspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Romanian teoria ca teoria, dar practica ne omoară, socoteala de acasă nu se potrivește cu cea din târg
- teoria ca teoria, dar practica ne omoarăspecific provisions of something may be complicated
- socoteala de acasă nu se potrivește cu cea din târgspecific provisions of something may be complicated
- dracu-i în amănunte ascuns.specific provisions of something may be complicated
Russian гла́дко бы́ло на бума́ге, да забы́ли про овра́ги
- 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
- el diablo está en los detallesspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Swedish djävulen sitter i detaljerna
- djävulen sitter i detaljernaspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Turkish şeytan ayrıntıda gizlidir
- şeytan ayrıntıda gizlidirspecific provisions of something may be complicated
Cite this entry
the devil is in the details. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20details
“the devil is in the details.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20details. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the devil is in the details,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20devil%20is%20in%20the%20details.
Source: the devil is in the details on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.