Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase from the given options.

Devil's advocate

• A. A dangerous person
• B. A person who presents counter arguments
• C. very argumentative person
• D. Creating an unpleasant situation

Answer 1

The correct option is B A person who presents counter arguments

An idiom is a phrase or group of words in a fixed order that have a particular meaning which is different from the meaning of the words on their own.

'Devil's advocate' is an idiom which refers to one who puts forward arguments against a proposition, even if they may actually agree with it, simply to test the validity of the proposition. Hence option B is the correct answer. Origin of the idiom can be traced back to old times. During the canonization (declaring that a person, who has died, was a saint) process of the Roman Catholic Church, an official was appointed to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate. This is done to properly justify the merits of the candidate. This official was known as the devil’s advocate.

Options A and D are incorrect because they are not the correct meanings of the idiom in question.

Option C is incorrect because the idiom does just refer to an argumentative person, but to someone who consciously counter-argues to validate something.