the devil | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Used to add emphasis to a question or statement.Synonyms:the dickens;see alsoThesaurus:the dickensWhatthe devilare you doing here at this time of night?1593, anonymous author,The Life and Death of Iacke Straw[…],Act I:VVhat is he an honeſt man?the deuillhe is, he is the Parſon of the Towne,You thinke ther’s no knauerie hid vnder a black gowne,Find him in a pulpit but twiſe in the yeare,And Ile find him fortie times in the ale-houſe taſting ſtrong beare.1749, Henry Fielding,The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling:“Brother,” said she, “whatever message Mr Blifil thinks proper to send to my niece shall be delivered to her; and I suppose she will want no instructions to make a proper answer. I am convinced she will not refuse to see Mr Blifil at a proper time.”—“The devilshe won’t!” answered the squire.

Examples:

EN: The Jutland reef was the devil to clear, but worse, he'd the English blockade to clear, its look-out's eagle-eyed gleam.
ES: El arrecife de Jutland fue complicado de superar, pero quedaba lo peor. Tenía que superar el bloqueo inglés, y la vista de águila de su centinela.
EN: "I'm not the devil, I'm just a sinner, I'm lost...
ES: No soy el diablo, tan sólo una pecadora, perdida...
EN: Go to the devil, insolent person.
ES: Desaparezca de aquí ahora mismo, insolente.
EN: Don't you want to send that insolent creatrure to the devil?
ES: ¿No piensa, ahora, volver a mandar al diablo a la insolente?
EN: Send that mob to the devil!
ES: ¡Mandad a la plebe al diablo!
EN: and you have been tied by the power of the devil.
ES: y está unido por el poder diabólico
EN: Before I am through with her and her father, they' think I' m the devil himself.
ES: "Antes de que acabe con ella y con su padre pensarán que soy el mismísimo diablo"
EN: Hats and men... what' s the devil up to?
ES: "¿Qué demonios tramará?"
EN: Like a witch forced by the devil, this woman both when sleeping and awake - gives way to a mysterious craving to strike matches.
ES: Como una bruja poseída por el Diablo, esta mujer tanto dormida como despierta... cede a un misterioso deseo de encender cerrillas.
EN: Have you been suddenly taken over by the devil?
ES: ¿Pero estáis de repente endemoniados? ¿Todos vosotros?"
EN: This cold is the devil!
ES: ¡Hace un frío del demonio!
EN: - Step on it, Drive her to the devil...
ES: -- ¡Enviadla al diablo en cuarta velocidad!
EN: "His play is the work of the devil. It would stir up trouble if it were ever performed."
ES: Su obra teatral es obra del demonio y causaría podredumbre, si alguna vez llegara a representarse.
EN: I'm not the devil they think I am.
ES: No soy el monstruo que crees que soy.
EN: "To the devil Duval and de Maudry!
ES: "¡Al diablo Duval y de Maudry!

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