Idiom
play devil's advocate
Meanings
To deliberately argue the opposite side in order to test an idea or discussion.
To challenge a plan with skeptical questions to uncover risks, flaws, or missing details.
Definition
To play devil's advocate means to argue against an idea on purpose to test it or explore weaknesses.
If you play devil's advocate, you take the opposite side of an argument even if you do not really disagree. You do this to check the logic, reveal problems, or help a group think more carefully. It is often used in meetings, debates, and planning discussions.
Examples
- Let me play devil's advocate: what if sales drop next quarter?
- I’m going to play devil's advocate and ask whether we really need this feature.
- She played devil's advocate during the meeting to make sure the plan was solid.
- Don’t get mad—I’m just playing devil's advocate to test your argument.
Common mistake
Learners often use play devil's advocate to mean true disagreement, but it usually means arguing the other side only to test an idea.
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