raise the devil

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"In a short time," says the annalist, "it was commonly reported forty men of Andover could raise the devil as well as any astrologer."

From Project Gutenberg

Your Lordship's tutor was just such a well-meaning person as mine, who used to take from me old Lindsay of Pitscottie, and set me down to get by heart Rollin's infernal list of the Shepherd Kings, whose hard names could have done no good to any one on earth, unless he had wished to raise the devil, and lacked language to conjure with.—Always, my dear Lord, most truly yours, Walter Scott.

From Project Gutenberg

I have learn'd to raise the Devil, but how the Devil shall I do to lay him.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not, indeed, until the time of George II. that it ceased to be an offence to endeavour to raise the Devil by magic words and oblige him to execute your commands.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew that even the sight of the place might raise the devil in him again.

From Project Gutenberg