play the devil with (something)

To ruin or cause serious damage to something; to greatly upset, disrupt, or negatively affect something. Lack of oversight allowed overzealous investment bankers to play the devil with the economy. I love wine, but it plays the devil with my stomach!

play the devil with someone/something

verb

See play hell with someone/something

See also: devil, play, someone, something

See also:

a casualty of (something)
a whole different animal
a whole different ball of wax
a whole different beast
(something) to go on
a/the feel of (something)
(I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
a straw will show which way the wind blows
a crack at (someone or something)
(You) wanna make something of it?

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