between the devil and the deep sea

noun

1. Theol.
   1. the chief evil spirit, a supernatural being subordinate to, and the foe of, God, and the tempter of human beings; Satan: typically depicted as a man with horns, a tail, and cloven feet: with the
   2. any evil spirit; demon
2. a very wicked or malevolent person
3. a person who is mischievous, energetic, reckless, etc.
4. an unlucky, unhappy person: that poor devil
5. anything that is difficult or is hard to operate, control, understand, etc.
6. printer's devil
7. any of various machines for tearing things, as paper or rags, to bits

Origin: ME devel < OE deofol < LL(Ec) diabolus < Gr diabolos, slanderous (in LXX, Satan; in N.T., devil) < diaballein, to slander, lit., throw across < dia-, across + ballein, to throw: see ball

transitive verb deviled or devilled, deviling or devilling

1. Origin: from the notion of heat

   to prepare (food, often chopped food) with hot seasoning: deviled ham
2. to tear up (rags, etc.) with a special machine
3. ☆ to annoy; torment; tease