Better the Devil You Know Than the Devil You Don’t

Definition

Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t is a proverb meaning that it is preferable to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation that is familiar rather than risk an unknown one that could be worse.

Parts of Speech

• Proverb

Pronunciation

General English

• IPA: /ˌbɛtər ðə ˈdɛvəl juː noʊ ðæn ðə ˈdɛvəl juː doʊnt/
• Respelling: BET-ər thuh DEV-uhl yoo noh than thuh DEV-uhl yoo dohnt

Etymology

First recorded in English in the early 16th century, this proverb likely evolved from earlier sayings contrasting known dangers with unknown risks.

Derivatives

• “Better the devil you know” (shortened form)

Synonyms

• “Familiar trouble is better than unknown peril”
• “Known evil is preferable to unknown good”

Antonyms

• “Out of the frying pan into the fire” (moving from a bad situation to a worse one)

Usage

The proverb "better the devil you know than the devil you don’t" is used to caution against changing from a familiar but unpleasant situation to an unfamiliar one that may prove worse. For example, "I don’t love my current role, but I’m hesitant to apply elsewhere—better the devil you know than the devil you don’t," or "We could renegotiate with a new supplier, but better the devil you know than the devil you don’t."

Related Terms

• Proverb: A short, commonly known saying that expresses a truth or piece of advice.
• Idiom: A phrase whose meaning is not deducible from the individual words.
• Familiarity bias: The tendency to prefer that which is known.
• Risk aversion: The reluctance to accept uncertain outcomes.
• Change management: The discipline of guiding transitions in business or life.

Detailed Definitions

Proverb

• Advising caution in change – warning that replacing a known problem with an unknown one can have unintended consequences.
  • Example: "She considered leaving her firm but decided against it—better the devil you know than the devil you don’t."
• Expressing risk aversion – highlighting a preference for familiar shortcomings over potential unknown dangers.
  • Example: "We could invest in a start‑up, but better the devil you know than the devil you don’t."