the devil finds work for idle hands to do
proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. The devil finds work for idle hands to do, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. The devil finds work for idle hands to do, after all.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
devil finds work for idle hands to do
Prov. If you do not have useful work to do, you will be tempted to do frivolous or harmful things to get rid of your boredom. Knowing that the devil finds work for idle hands to do, Elizabeth always made sure that her children had plenty of chores to keep them occupied.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.