Sayings

He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon

This page is about the saying "He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon"

Possible meaning:
If you eat with the devil, you need a (very) long spoon so that you can keep your distance. If you mix with bad people, you should be careful not to be influenced by them. A warning not to get too close when dealing with evil people.

Note:
sup (verb) = eat supper ("supper" is an evening meal) | the devil (noun) = (in Jewish and Christian belief) the chief evil spirit; Satan | spoon (noun) = an implement consisting of a small, shallow bowl on a long handle, used for eating | The phrase "to sup with a long spoon" (or similar) is often used alone, with no reference to the devil.

Quick Quiz

"He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon" so that he can

a. poke the devil in the eye

b. avoid getting too close to bad company

c. avoid burning his hand
a) poke the devil in the eye b) avoid getting too close to bad company c) avoid burning his hand
He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon

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Contributor: Josef Essberger