like the devil

like the devil

An intensifier used when one puts forth great effort to do something. I'm planning to fight like the devil against this illness, so I'm researching both Western and Eastern methods of treatment. We've been working like the devil to get the update finished before the Christmas break.

See also: devil, like

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

*like the devil

 and *like the dickens; *like hell

Fig. with a fury; in a great hurry; with a lot of activity. (*Typically: fight ~; run ~; scream ~; thrash around~.) We were working like the dickens when the rain started and made us quit for the day.

See also: devil, like

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

like the devil (or a demon)

with great speed or energy.

See also: devil, like

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

like the ˈdevil

(old-fashioned, informal) very fast, hard, etc: We had to work like the devil to be finished on time. ♢ I ran like the devil, but I still missed the bus.

See also: devil, like

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017