idle hands are the devil's workshop

English

Alternative forms

• Idle hands are the devil's playthings.
• Idle hands are the devil's tools.
• any of these, but with Devil in place of devil

Etymology

Probably ultimately from St. Jerome, "fac et aliquid operis, ut semper te diabolus inveniat occupatum".

Proverb

Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

1. One who is idle will likely come to do evil.