like the devil

*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