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Citation Information
How to Cite
Manser, Martin H. "the devil is in the details." Writer's Reference Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 9 Apr. 2025. <http://fofweb.infobase.com/wrc/Detail.aspx?iPin=DOP00333>.
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the devil is in the details

Definition 
The details of something are of paramount importance, and you should always examine or pay attention to them in any proposition you are considering or any project you undertake: Read the contract very carefully before you sign. Remember that the devil is in the details, and there may be hidden drawbacks or unacceptable conditions that are not immediately apparent. The proverb was first recorded in English as recently as the 1970s, and it may be of German, French, or Italian origin. It has been attributed to the Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475–1564) and the French writer Gustave Flaubert (1821–80), among others.

Variant of this proverb: God is in the details.

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