The Debil!

Q: Where did it come from?

From Kathy Bates’s line in the 1998 movie The Waterboy: “Foosball is the debil!”

The debil is a Southernish pop-culture saying meaning "the devil." It became famous from the 1998 movie The Waterboy, where Kathy Bates’s character says, "Foosball is the debil!" in a Cajun-Southern accent.

#Southernish

synonyms: evil, trouble, mischief, temptation

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I often say somethin' I don't like is 'the debil!' Mayonnaise is a good example. But I lifted it from the movie.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I often say somethin' I don't like is 'the debil!' Mayonnaise is a good example. But I lifted it from the movie.

Pronunciation

[THUH DEB-uhl]
/ðə ˈdɛbəl/

Meaning & Usage

- Humorous reference to the devil (pop-culture usage)

Tucker:

You still watch that reality show?

Mandy:

Nope, that stuff’s the debil.

variations: the devil, debbil, da debil

Origin

This modern phrase comes straight from pop culture. In the 1998 Adam Sandler film The Waterboy, the overprotective Louisiana mother played by Kathy Bates calls anything she disapproves of "the debil." The pronunciation exaggerates a Cajun-Southern accent, turning "devil" into "debil." While not a genuine folk word, it became a humorous meme and shorthand for old-fashioned Southern disapproval.

Verdict: Southernish. A modern comedic rendering of "the devil," born from Hollywood’s version of Southern speech.

Notes

Usually said jokingly to imitate The Waterboy or mock exaggerated Southern religion stereotypes.
Not a traditional Southern term - purely a movie-born expression.
Still quoted widely online and in conversation, often for humor.
Spelling varies: "debil," "debbil," or "da debil."

Common Questions

What does "the debil" mean?

It means "the devil," said in a Cajun-Southern accent, usually as a joke.

Where did it come from?

From Kathy Bates’s line in the 1998 movie The Waterboy: "Foosball is the debil!"

Is it a real Southern word?

No - it’s a playful exaggeration created for comedy, not authentic dialect.

Do people still say it?

Yes, mostly as a joke or meme referencing the movie.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 20). The Debil!. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/the-debil
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "The Debil!." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/the-debil.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "The Debil!." HillbillySlang.com. October 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/the-debil.

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