The Devil Take The Hindmost | Meaning Origin Misuse

You’ll see the saying quoted in books, opinion pieces, and the odd heated comment thread. It sounds old-fashioned, but it still lands because it paints a clear scene: a group is running, no one slows down, and the last person takes the hit.

This article gives you the meaning, the feel of the line, where it came from, and how to use it without sounding careless. You’ll also get ready-to-drop-in swaps when you want the same idea with less bite.

The Devil Take The Hindmost Meaning In Daily Speech

The phrase the devil take the hindmost is used when people act in a self-protective way and stop caring what happens to anyone who can’t keep up. It often shows up as a comment on a “me first” scramble: a crowd rushing a limited supply, teams shifting blame, or businesses cutting corners and letting someone else pay the cost.

When someone says it, they’re rarely cheering. Most of the time, they’re calling out a cold move, or they’re admitting the situation has turned into a free-for-all. Tone is the whole game here.

What The Words Suggest

Hindmost means “last” or “furthest behind.” In the image the saying builds, the “devil” is the threat at your back, and the person who can’t stay near the front gets caught. It’s a sharp shortcut for “every person for themselves.”

Modern writers also use it to label a system that rewards speed and punishes anyone who hesitates. If the rules push people to sprint, the slowest runner becomes the sacrifice.

Quick Read On Tone

• Judgmental: “That policy feels like a no-mercy scramble.”
• Resigned: “Once the deadline hits, people look out for themselves.”
• Wry: “Free parking at noon? Last one in loses.”

Common Situations Where The Saying Fits And Safer Ways To Phrase It

Situation	What The Saying Implies	Safer Swap That Keeps The Point
Limited seats, tickets, or spots	People rush; no one holds a place for others	“It’s first come, first served.”
Office credit for group work	Folks guard their own wins, then blame lands on the last person	“Everyone’s guarding their own scorecard.”
Budget cuts	One team shields itself while another takes the loss	“Cuts land on whoever has the least shelter.”
Competitive admissions or hiring	Applicants push hard; empathy drops out	“The race gets ruthless near the finish.”
Supply shortages	Hoarding behavior, “grab yours” energy	“People stock up fast when shelves look thin.”
Online drops and flash sales	Speed wins; late clicks lose	“You have to be quick on the refresh.”
Rules with harsh penalties	One mistake knocks you out; no grace period	“Miss once and you’re out.”
Evacuations and crowd panic	A rush where slower people face higher risk	“People bolt and don’t look back.”
Markets with winner-heavy payouts	Only leaders earn; the rest absorb the harm	“The gap between first and the rest is brutal.”

Devil Take The Hindmost Origin And Early Records

Most sayings stick because they carry a picture you don’t need to explain. This one does that in five words. As for print history, sources place it in the early 1600s. Dictionary.com notes an early record in 1608 and links it to the idea of a children’s chase game where the last runner “loses.”

If you want a clean definition for modern use, the Collins Dictionary entry frames it as a way to describe people doing what suits them while leaving others to their fate. That matches everyday English: a comment on self-interest, not a spooky warning about literal demons.

One reason the line stuck is that it can compress a whole social scene into a short jab. Readers will feel the elbows in the crowd.

Why The “Devil” Shows Up In Old Sayings

English proverbs lean on “devil” as a symbol for trouble chasing you, not as a theology lesson. You’ll see it in plenty of fixed phrases: “devil’s advocate,” “devil-may-care,” “better the devil you know.” In each, “devil” points to risk, chaos, or the ugly side of a deal.

So in this saying, “devil” is the threat you want to stay ahead of. The “hindmost” is the person stuck at the back, and the line shrugs: that’s who the trouble will catch.

Two Common Forms You Might See

• “Every man for himself.” (often followed by a harsher tag about the last person)
• “Let the last one pay.” (a pushy, old-fashioned punch)

Writers also shorten it by dropping the opening “the.” All of these carry the same bite.

Capitalization And Punctuation In Real Writing

You’ll see a few versions. In running text, most writers keep it in lower case unless it starts a sentence. In titles, it often appears in title case. Quotation marks are optional; they help when the reader may not know the line yet.

Watch the verb, too. You’ll see “take” and “takes.” Both appear in print. The shorter “take” is common in set-phrase use, while “takes” can read like a sentence fragment pulled into a line of dialogue. Pick one and stay consistent.

How To Use The Saying Without Sounding Over The Top

The line is sharp. That’s the point. Still, there’s a difference between sharp and careless. Use it when you want to label a scramble where empathy has dropped out, not when you’re talking about real harm in a personal setting.

Pick The Right Distance

If you aim the line at a person, it can read like an insult. If you aim it at a situation, it reads like a critique of the setup. That small shift changes the feel.

• At a person (riskier): “You’re one of those people who’d step over others.”
• At a setup (cleaner): “The rules push a free-for-all, and the slowest get punished.”

Pair It With One Concrete Detail

Dropping the line alone can sound like a slogan. Add one detail so the reader knows what “hindmost” means in that scene. One line is enough: the last applicant, the slowest team, the late payer, the smallest vendor.

Watch Your Audience

In formal writing, it works best in commentary, not in policy or instruction text. In casual talk, it can be funny in low-stakes moments. In serious moments, it can sound cold, even if you don’t mean it that way.

What The Saying Means In Class Terms

If you’re teaching, studying, or writing for school, it helps to break the saying into two parts: the literal picture and the implied message. The literal picture is a chase with a threat behind. The implied message is social: the group won’t slow down to help the last person.

That implied message can show up in essays on competition, policy tradeoffs, or ethics in markets. You don’t have to preach. You can use the line as a label, then point to the evidence in your topic.

Sentence Frames You Can Copy

• “Once the deadline hit, the room turned into a sprint, with everyone racing to submit first.”
• “The rule turns a shared task into a free-for-all, since one missed step dumps the cost on the last person.”
• “The slogan sounds bold, but the results punish anyone without time or money to spare.”

If you want a short note on recorded history and usage, the Dictionary.com entry summarizes the idea and points to early print appearances.

Common Misreads And How To Avoid Them

People trip on this saying in a few predictable ways. Fixing them is easy once you know what the line does.

Misread 1: Treating It Like A Wish

Some readers hear it as “I hope something bad happens to the last person.” That’s not how the line is used in most writing. It’s more like a grim shrug: if everyone runs, the last one gets caught. Use it as a comment on behavior, not as a curse.

Misread 2: Using It For Any Kind Of Competition

Not every contest is ruthless. This saying fits when the setup nudges people to ignore others. A friendly race, a fair exam, or a clear queue often doesn’t match the vibe.

Misread 3: Dropping It Into A Sensitive Moment

Since it paints a “left behind” scene, it can sting in topics like layoffs, illness, or loss. If your goal is empathy, pick a softer line. You can still criticize selfish moves without using a phrase that sounds like a shrug at suffering.

Swap-In Lines When You Want The Same Idea With Less Bite

Sometimes you want the concept—people saving themselves—without the harsh flavor. These options keep the point while fitting more settings.

Phrase Swaps By Goal And Tone

Goal	Swap-In Line	When It Fits
Describe a fair queue	“First come, first served.”	Tickets, services, signups
Call out selfish behavior	“It’s every person for themselves.”	Group work, crises, messy teams
Point to speed pressure	“Late means locked out.”	Portals, forms, deadlines
Name a harsh penalty	“One slip and you’re done.”	Strict rules, zero-grace systems
Show hoarding behavior	“People grab what they can.”	Shortages, panic buying
Mark a winner-heavy payout	“The leader takes the prize.”	Contests with steep drop-off
Describe a chaotic rush	“It turns into a scramble.”	Sales, crowds, online drops
Describe a cold tradeoff	“Someone pays last.”	Policy tradeoffs, cost shifting
Warn about being late	“Don’t be the last one in line.”	Friendly advice, low stakes
Critique a system design	“The rules punish the slowest.”	Access issues, fairness talk

Mini Checklist For Using The Saying In Essays And Posts

Before you type it, run a quick check. This keeps the line sharp, not sloppy.

1. Name the scene. What is the “race” in your topic?
2. Point to the hindmost. Who gets stuck paying the cost?
3. Show the pressure. What rule or incentive makes people rush?
4. Pick your tone. Are you judging, joking, or describing?
5. Choose a swap if needed. If the line sounds harsh, use a softer option from the table.

Last Checks Before You Publish Or Turn It In

Make sure the line fits your audience and your goal. If you’re writing for school, define it once, then use it as a label for the behavior you’re showing. If you’re writing a post, give one concrete detail so readers can see who the “hindmost” is in your scene.

Used well, the line saves words and adds punch. Used carelessly, it can sound like a shrug at harm. Put it where it earns its place, and your reader will get the point on the first pass.