lupus in fabula

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Italian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin lupus in fabula.

Phrase

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lupus in fabula

  1. speak of the devil

Latin

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Etymology

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Literally, wolf in the story.

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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lupus in fābulā

  1. (idiomatic) talk of the devil, speak of the devil and he shall appear
    Synonym: lupus in sermōne
    • Pompeius, Commentum in Artis Donati partem tertiam in Heinrich Keil, Grammatici Latini 5.311.31K:
      Puta dē nescioquō loquēbāris et subitō venit is, dīcis tū, "lupus in fābulā!"
      Say, you were talking about somebody or other, and all of a sudden that person comes, then you say: "talk of the devil!"
    • 68 BCE – 44 BCE, Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum 13.33.1:
      Dē Varrōne loquēbāmur. Lupus in fābulā: vēnit enim ad mē [...]
      We were talking about Varro the other day. Speak of the devil: he arrived at my place [...]