아무 단어나 입력하세요!

Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know Meaning in English

expression

BET-er thuh DEV-uhl yoo NOH than thuh DEV-uhl yoo DON'T noh
BET-uh thuh DEV-uhl yoo NOH than thuh DEV-uhl yoo DON'T noh

Definition

This expression means that it's safer or wiser to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation or person you already know than to risk something unknown, which could be even worse.

Usage & Nuances

This is a proverb used in both formal and informal contexts. It’s often used to caution against taking risks or changing a bad situation for the unknown. It’s usually said when someone considers switching jobs, relationships, or making big life decisions.

Spanish: más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocerPortuguese (BR): mais vale o diabo que você conhece do que o diabo que não conhecePortuguese (PT): mais vale o diabo que conheces do que o diabo que não conhecesChinese (Simplified): 宁可选择已知的坏人，也不要选择未知的坏人Chinese (Traditional): 寧可選擇已知的壞人，也不要選擇未知的壞人Hindi: बेहतर है वह शैतान जिसे तुम जानते हो, उससे जिसे तुम नहीं जानतेArabic: الأفضل الشيطان الذي تعرفه من الشيطان الذي لا تعرفهBengali: চেনা শত্রু আগন্তুক শত্রুর চেয়ে ভাল - চেনা শয়তান অচেনা শয়তানের চেয়ে ভালRussian: лучше знакомый враг, чем незнакомый - лучше известное зло, чем неизвестноеJapanese: 知っている悪魔の方が知らない悪魔よりマシVietnamese: thà chấp nhận cái xấu mình biết còn hơn cái xấu mình chưa biếtKorean: 아는 악마가 모르는 악마보다 낫다Turkish: bildiğin şeytan bilmediğin şeytandan iyidirUrdu: جانا پہچانا بُرا، انجانے بُرے سے بہترIndonesian: lebih baik setan yang sudah dikenal daripada setan yang belum dikenal

Example Sentences

My old boss is tough, but better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

basic

She stayed at her job because better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

basic

When faced with two bad options, he remembered, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.'

basic

You may not love your apartment, but remember, better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

natural

He thought about moving to a new city but decided against it—better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

natural

Before switching teams, she said, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't know,' and decided to stay.

natural