bet the devil you know

[Steelie2006]

what does the saying 'bet the devil you know' mean?
and where does it come from?

Patrick McGuiness said it on Max and Paddy's road to nowhere...

also

what does 'i'm spitting feathers' mean, and where does it come from?

cheers,
~steelie~

[Postdog]

I don't know where either saying comes from, but better the devil you know is just another way of saying that although you may not be happy with someone or something, by trying to change it, you could end up being even less happy. Spitting feathers just means you are really dry and thirsty.

[jno]

yes, in full 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't.'

[heathfield]

'Spitting feathers' can mean thirsty, but in some parts of the country it can mean that someone is so angry as to be spitting flecks of saliva as they rant and rave..

[Steelie2006]

so you're saying...

'better the devil you know than the devil you don't' its like even though he's the devil it's better you know him than try and change him and he be worse

just using an immature devil reference

cheers

[jno]

it's more that if you have a choice between two things and they're both bad, better to choose the bad one you know (because you'll know the worst that can happen) than the one you haven't encountered before because it might turn out to be worse.

[angeldraws]

Hmmm....i thought 'spitting feathers' meant the same as 'as dry as a camel's A$$ in a sandstorm' - or is that just me???!!!!!