...like the Devil

Posted by ESC August 24, 2011 at 20:52In reply to ...like the Devil posted by John Szabo on August 23, 2011 at 06:36:

Looking for the origin of the seemingly contradictory phrase "I miss you like the Devil." Since most of us would prefer not to see the Devil, and I understand the expression implies missing a person a great deal, I wonder how it came about to mean the opposite?

Just thinking outloud here. Hit your thumb with a hammer and you might say, "That hurts like the Devil." Meaning...maybe...pain that feels like the Devil had inflicted it with his pitchfork, flames of hell, etc.