the devil and his dam
Preserved but no longer current.
The devil and some- thing even worse. Dam (#.v.) here may mean either mother (the usual meaning), or -wife. Quotations may be adduced in support of either of these interpretations, and it is to be noted that frequently (cp. Paradise Lost, ii) there is no differentiation. Also, Rabbinical tradition relates that Lilith was the wife of Adam, but was such a vixen that Adam could not live with her, and she became the devil's dam.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the devil and his dam” mean?
The devil and some- thing even worse. Dam (#.v.) here may mean either mother (the usual meaning), or -wife. Quotations may be adduced in support of either of these interpretations, and it is to be noted that frequently (cp. Paradise Lost, ii) there is no differentiation. Also, Rabbinical tradition relates that Lilith was the wife of Adam, but was such a vixen that Adam could not live with her, and she became the devil's dam.
Is “the devil and his dam” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.