devil's bargain
Ruinous tempting offer
A devil's bargain is an agreement that offers short-term gain at terrible long-term cost—trading something precious (often one's integrity or future) for immediate benefit.
The phrase evokes the Faustian legend of selling one's soul to the devil: She made a devil's bargain when she accepted their money.
Also called a Faustian bargain.
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- FaustLegendary deal-with-devil maker
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- MephistophelesSoul-bargaining demon
- pactFormal agreement between parties
blood pact · penalty · temptation · too good to be true · fine print · hubris · betrayal · eternal damnation · forbidden knowledge · fallout · unintended consequences · point of no return · risk · short-sightedness · tragic flaw · moral compromise · corruption · slippery slope
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
devil's bargainfair trade
Equitable exchange between parties
square deal · win-win · no strings attached · mutual benefit · good deal
devil's bargaingodsend
Unexpected welcome help
salvation · blessing in disguise · redemption · windfall · grace
devil, devils, devilish, devilry, deviltry, bargain, bargains, bargained, bargaining