devil is in the details
English
Etymology
In allusion to God is in the detail.
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Proverb
- (idiomatic) The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
- 1965, Newsweek, volume 65, page 173:
- 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).
-
Usage notes
"Detail" as a mass noun is also used instead of "details" - The devil is in the detail.
Translations
specific provisions of something may be complicated
|
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.