Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Old Nick

American  

noun

Informal.
  1. the devil; Satan.


Old Nick British  

noun

  1. informal a jocular name for Satan

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Old Nick

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Broad Branch is one of a few distilleries trying to curb the shortage of hygiene products, and at least one of two in the Triad with Old Nick Williams Farm and Distillery in Lewisville.

From Washington Times Mar. 22, 2020

Their best answer to date is the other “goblin metal” closely associated with cobalt, nickel, whose name comes from a German spirit closely related to Old Nick.

From Economist Mar. 22, 2018

His deputy called him diabolus bibliothecae, “the devil of the library”; others referred to him simply as Old Nick.

From The New Yorker May 1, 2017

Old Nick, in his ministerially commissioned report last week, thinks only 10 or 12, at most, can make a go of two hours a day of – memorable phrase – "reasonably low-cost but high-quality broadcasting".

From The Guardian Dec. 19, 2010

Get that idea of the Old Nick out of your head.

From Camp Fires of the Wolf Patrol by Douglas, Alan

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training