pleɪ ˈdevəlz ˈædvəkət
Business
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- Acting as the devil's lawyer
What does "play devil's advocate" mean?
- Arguing against something for the sake of debate
- Presenting opposing viewpoints to test an argument
Examples
- Let me play devil's advocate here—what if we're wrong?
- She likes to play devil's advocate in meetings.
- I'm just playing devil's advocate to test your idea.
Origin
From the Catholic Church's 'advocatus diaboli'—a person appointed to argue against canonizing a saint, to ensure thorough examination.
How to use it
Often preceded by 'let me' as a disclaimer. Useful in business discussions and debates.
Similar expressions
argue the opposite
take the contrary position
Opposites
agree wholeheartedly
support unconditionally
Related idioms
- on the same page
In agreement or having the same understanding
- cut to the chase
To get to the point without wasting time
- hit the ground running
To start a new job or activity with immediate effectiveness
- in the loop
Included in the flow of information
- the bottom line
The most important point or factor
- get up to speed
To become fully informed about a situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "play devil's advocate" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.