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

*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

like the devil (or a demon)

with great speed or energy.

See also: devil, like

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