devil-may-care

Meaning

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Cheerfully careless and reckless, showing no worry about risks, consequences, or what others think.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a devil-may-care attitude, not an attitude that is devil-may-care.

   Patterns

   • a devil-may-care attitude
   • a devil-may-care manner

   He drove with a devil-may-care grin, taking every corner too fast.

   Her devil-may-care attitude to money worried her parents.

   The pilot had a devil-may-care charm that made him popular.

Common combinations

devil-may-care attitude

His devil-may-care attitude got him into trouble at school.

devil-may-care smile

She tossed her keys on the table with a devil-may-care smile.

devil-may-care approach

A devil-may-care approach to safety is unacceptable in a laboratory.

devil-may-care air

He walked in with a devil-may-care air, an hour late.

devil-may-care spirit

The explorers had a devil-may-care spirit that inspired many young readers.

Synonyms and how they differ

reckless

Reckless is more clearly negative and stresses dangerous behavior, whereas devil-may-care can sound charming or romantic.

carefree

Carefree describes someone free from worry in a mild, pleasant way, but it does not suggest taking risks.

nonchalant

Nonchalant suggests calm, cool indifference, while devil-may-care adds a hint of daring.

happy-go-lucky

Happy-go-lucky means easygoing and cheerful, but it is less about courting danger.

Opposites

Word family

devil noun

the evil spirit that gives the compound its first word

care noun

worry or serious attention, the last element of the compound

carefree adjective

free from worry or responsibility

careless adjective

not paying enough attention

Commonly confused: devil-may-care or happy-go-lucky?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “devil-may-care”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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