play hob with

English

Etymology

From Middle English Hob (a diminutive of Robin, from Old French [Term?], a diminutive of Robert) in its connection with Robin Goodfellow and (subsequently) the devil. Compare hobgoblin.

Verb

play hob with

  1. (idiomatic, Britain, rustic US) mess with, cause trouble for
    • 1838 June 2, N.Y. Mirror, 387/1
      They say it's playing hob with the fellers in these here parts.
    • 1940, D.A. Lord, Our Lady in the Modern World, iii. 141
      The revolutionists who are playing hob with our generation are really masters of the obsolete.
    2010, Eliezer Yudkowsky, Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality ยง62
    It'll play hob with my sleep schedule but I suppose it can't be helped. Please let the house elves know that if I ask for an early breakfast at, say, three A.M. tomorrow morning, I'm to receive it.

Synonyms
  • (US) mess with
  • (obsolete) play the devil (with)

References
  • Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "Hob, n.1". Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1898.
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