devil for

devil (someone or something) for (something)

To bother someone or something for something. Janie has been deviling me for candy all day, even though she knows she's not allowed to have any until after dinner. Ugh, quit deviling me for answer, will you? I haven't made up my mind yet! The kids have deviled us for a new puppy for almost two years now. They just won't quit!

See also: devil, for

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

devil (someone or an animal) for something

Fig. to bother or harass someone or an animal for something. The child kept deviling her mother for an ice-cream cone. The kittens continued to devil the mother cat for their dinner.

See also: devil, for

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.