play devil's advocate
argue the opposite side for the sake of debate
In Spanish
argue the opposite side for the sake of debate
Examples
- Just to play devil's advocate — what if the data is wrong?
- She played devil's advocate to challenge the team's assumptions during the meeting.
- Instead of agreeing, he decided to play devil's advocate to explore other possibilities.
When it's used
The idiom is used in both formal and informal debates or discussions. It's common in academic or professional settings where exploring all sides of an argument is encouraged. It can be seen as slightly formal but is widely understood.
The common mistake
A frequent mistake is using it in emotional or personal situations where it feels inappropriate. For example, saying 'I'll play devil's advocate' during a personal disagreement might come across as insensitive or out of place.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
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