It turns out the “devil’s advocate” was an actual role in the Catholic Church, used primarily during canonization – the act when the Catholic Church declares someone a saint. Unlike some idioms, this one is also easily decoded.Sometimes idioms are so complicated and so rooted in contextual use, their words don’t have anything to do with their meaning. The variant is a couple of decades newer and its precise meaning depends on the context. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Thank you. With Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones. Your page helped me learn a bit more about myself, as this term was thrown around once to describe me on a personality test. Idioms similar to 'Devil's advocate' Better the devil you know; Devil may care; Speak of the devil! In the early years of Catholicism, the Church was decentralized, and bishops and other mid-level figures had the power to canonize saints on a local level. It can also mean one who presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in, to another debater. 4. For example, My role in the campaign is to play devil's advocate to each new policy before it's introduced to the public. High quality Devils Advocate gifts and merchandise. Devil's advocate in a sentence. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. devil's advocate. One who argues against or attacks an idea, argument, or proposition—even if one is in favor of it—for the sake of debate or to further examine its strength, validity, or details. “Play devil’s advocate” is a very popular idiomatic expression that’s used in the English language. Encyclopedia Britannica, online edition. Devil’s Advocate It refers to someone who takes an opposing position for the sake of argument. She just likes to play devil’s advocate. To describe someone as a Devil's advocate now is to suggest that they are mischievous and contradictory, being contrary for the sake of it. Oxford English Dictionary, online edition. Devil's Advocate One who takes up the opposite argument to another person's statement or position, just to cause a problem for them. dev′il's ad′vocate. devil's advocate uncountable noun [also with det] If you play devil's advocate in a discussion or debate, you express an opinion which you may not agree with but which is very different to what other people have been saying, in order to make the argument more interesting. Directed by Taylor Hackford. Can you please add some what part of speech are the titles? Often the interviewer will need to play devil's advocate in order to get a discussion going. Discuss this Idiom in the comments below. He would play devil's advocate with anyone. devil's advocate - someone who takes the worse side just for the sake of argument. Let the devil take the hindmost; Devil is in the detail; If you lie down with the Devil, you will wake up in hell; Between the devil and the deep blue sea; Idle hands are the devil's handiwork; Devil finds work for … Today we often say, “he’s playing the devil’s advocate” or “he’s the devil’s advocate”. The Promoter of Faith was commonly called the Devil’s Advocate because during the investigation of potential saints, this role was to be skeptical of the presented evidence in order to ascertain whether or not the material presented was genuine. For example, We wanted to compare authentic dissent to the, As for his readers' reaction to the resurrection of the destroyed, In light of these findings, researchers might consider the utility of adding a new character to Galbraith's (1984) existing cast of innovation roles: The role of the ", Morris West, the Australian novelist who died in October, made his reputation first with The, I would like to say that, in this month's feature, Stephen Abram is playing, During classes, no matter what position we took on an issue, he would play, As tax professionals, have you ever played ", Make sure you aren't regularly playing the, Less well known, perhaps, are his invention of the aqualung, his World War II Resistance work, and his irascible nature, which has led to occasional breaks with his family (he recently filed legal papers against his son Jean-Michel in a dispute over a resort in Fiji), and to, In contrast, the right hemisphere acts as a. I'm all for universal health care, but let me be the devil's advocate for a moment. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The title “devils advocate” is a noun and verb put together. One who argues against a cause or position either for the sake of argument or to help determine its validity. Devil’s advocate (subscription required, accessed February 9, 2017). Someone who plays devil’s advocate (or the devil’s advocate) is arguing against a popular or familiar view or is simply arguing for the sake of arguing. One who argues against or attacks an idea, argument, or proposition—even if one is in favor of it—for the sake of debate or to further examine its strength, validity, or details. devil of a devil of a Also, one devil or the devil of a; hell of a.Infernally annoying or difficult, as in This is a devil of an assembly job, or She had one devil of a time getting through the traffic, or I had a hell of a morning sitting in that doctor's office. Chambers Harrap, 2012. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. 2. an official of the Roman Catholic Church whose duty is to argue against a proposed beatification or canonization. The Devil’s advocate is an ancient phrase that has long history. Learn more. Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 19th ed. Oxford University Press. Tom always plays devil's advocate in any given conversation because he loves picking apart other people's arguments. devil’s advocate Definition: Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the arguement. , © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd Fable, 19th ed may not agree with in order to get discussion... Are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours get a discussion going a formerly. Theron, Jeffrey Jones and its precise meaning depends on the context they do believe in, another! Teach you a very interesting English expression -- devil 's advocate in order to make an argument interesting! 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