dance with the devil
Court grave danger
To dance with the devil is to engage in risky or morally dangerous behavior, often knowingly.
The phrase suggests flirting with serious consequences—dealing with dangerous people, pursuing forbidden pleasures, or making compromises that could cost you: She knew she was dancing with the devil when she took the loan.
The implication is that such bargains rarely end well.
- Faustian bargainRuinous exchange for power
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- forbidden fruitEnticing thing that's prohibited
- damnationEternal punishment decree
- sinViolation of divine law
spiritual conflict · dark side · peril · redemption · moral dilemma · Mephistopheles · gamble · demon · supernatural influence · satanic imagery · fire and brimstone · corruption · fall from grace · perdition · bargain · recklessness · brinkmanship · slippery slope
dance with the devilwalk the straight and narrow
Maintain ethical conduct
play it safe · err on the side of caution · keep the faith · keep one's nose clean · hedge one's bets
dance with the devilplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
err on the side of caution · hedge one's bets · keep a low profile · tread carefully
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