What's in the detail?

[sherrardk]

I think that the saying is the Devil's in the detail and my husband thinks it is God' in the detail. Which one is it and what does it actually mean?

[albatross521]

devil. means the trickest part.

[Loosehead]

It's the devil. It means that initial appearences may seem favourable but when more detail is known the situation is not so favourable.

[Quizmonster]

Mies van der Rohe, the noted German architect, claimed that "God is in the details." That was also supposedly said earlier by the French writer, Gustave Flaubert.
However, the more common saying is "The devil is in the detail."
Both you and your husband are, therefore, correct!

[ali_alic]

I've always understood it to mean that if you don't pay attention to the detail thats when things go wrong.

[CLOWN TICKLE]

the devil