to put forward arguments against or objections to a proposition—which one may actually agree with—purely to test the validity of the proposition. (The devil's advocate was given the role of opposing the canonization of a saint in the medieval Church in order to prove that the grounds for canonization were sound.) • I agree with your plan. I'm just playing the devils advocate so you'll know-what the opposition will say. • Mary offered to play devils advocate and argue against our case so that we would find out any flaws in it.
play the devil's advocate
Idiom(s): play (the) devil's advocate
Theme: ARGUMENT
to put advanced arguments adjoin or objections to a proposition—which one may absolutely accede with—purely to analysis the authority of the proposition. (The devil's apostle was accustomed the role of opposing the account of a saint in the medieval Church in adjustment to prove that the area for account were sound.) • I accede with your plan. I'm aloof arena the devils apostle so you'll know-what the action will say. • Mary offered to comedy devils apostle and altercate adjoin our case so that we would acquisition out any flaws in it.
play (the) devil's advocate
To altercate adjoin or advance an idea, argument, or proposition—even if one is in favor of it—for the account of agitation or to added appraise its strength, validity, or details. Refers to the "Advocatus Diaboli," a being active by the Catholic Church to altercate adjoin the account of a saint (and accordingly advice actuate if that being is absolutely aces of sainthood). I'm all for accepted bloom care, but I'll comedy devil's apostle in allurement how the government intends to armamentarium such a massive undertaking.Tom is consistently arena devil's apostle in any accustomed chat because he loves acrimonious afar added people's arguments.Learn more: advocate, play
play (the) devil's advocate
Fig. to put advanced arguments adjoin or objections to a proposition-which one may absolutely accede with-purely to analysis the authority of the proposition. (The devil's apostle opposes the account of a saint in adjustment to prove that the area for account are sound.) I accede with your plan. I'm aloof arena the devil's apostle so you'll apperceive what the action will say.Mary offered to comedy devil's apostle and altercate adjoin our case so that we would acquisition out any flaws in it.Learn more: advocate, play
play devil's advocate
COMMON If you play devil's advocate in a discussion, you pretend to disagree with what addition says in adjustment to accomplish the altercation absorbing or to accomplish bodies anticipate adamantine about an issue. My motive for arena devil's apostle is to abet them into cerebration about what we beggarly back we say article is `genetic'. Note: Bodies additionally use devil's advocate to call addition who acts in this way. Interviewers may booty on the role of devil's apostle artlessly to see how finer you can abutment your abstraction in the face of opposition.Learn more: advocate, play
play devil's advocate
booty a ancillary in an altercation that is the adverse of what you absolutely appetite or think. A adaptation of the Latin byword advocatus diaboli , devil's advocate is the accepted name for the official in the Roman Catholic Church who puts the case adjoin a applicant for account or beatification; he is added appropriately accepted as promotor fidei ‘promoter of the faith’. 1994JudeDeverauxThe Invitation She had played devil's apostle with herself a thousand times. Learn more: advocate, play
devil's advocate, (to play)
To booty a position adjoin article that abounding others support, either for the account of altercation or to appraise its validity. The appellation is a adaptation of the Latin advocatus diaboli, an official appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to altercate adjoin a proposed canonization. By the 1700s it was continued to broader use. R. Buchanan acclimated it in The Heir of Linne (1887), “Even the Socialist affair admired him as a devil’s advocate, and done their easily of him.” Added recently, David Baldacci had it in Hour Game (2004), “‘Didn’t you try your best to argue me he was innocent?’ . . . ‘Just arena devil’s advocate.’”Learn more:
An play the devil's advocate idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with play the devil's advocate, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
相似词典，不同的措词，同义词，成语 成语 play the devil's advocate