lupus in fabula
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin lupus in fabula.
Phrase
Etymology
Literally, “wolf in the story”.
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /lu.pu.sinˈfaː.bu.laː/, [ɫ̪ʊpʊs̠ĩːˈfäːbʊɫ̪äː]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈlu.pus in ˈfa.bu.la/, [ˈluːpus in ˈfäːbulä]
Proverb
- (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!"
- Puta dē nescioquō loquēbāris et subitō venit is, dīcis tū, "lupus in fābulā!"
- 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 [...]
- Dē Varrōne loquēbāmur. Lupus in fābulā: vēnit enim ad mē [...]
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