Talk of the devil and he'll be sure to appear.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

The phrase marks the coincidence of someone arriving just as they are being discussed. Its devil image is a playful figure of speech in this use, not evidence of supernatural causation or a judgement that the arriving person is wicked.

What the words are saying

The saying creates a moment of recognition when conversation and arrival happen together. In an everyday figurative use, the person being mentioned walks into the room or makes contact at just that point. The speaker highlights the coincidence rather than explaining why it occurred. Its emphatic wording should not be taken as a claim that mentioning someone summons them, or that such timing will always happen. The devil label can also sound unkind outside a familiar, friendly exchange. A useful reading keeps the joke light and avoids attaching a moral accusation to the person whose arrival happened to match the conversation.

Everyday example

Two organisers are wondering whether their colleague has the exhibition keys when that colleague enters carrying them, and one warmly remarks on the coincidence.

When to use it

Use it lightly when someone arrives or contacts you just as they are being mentioned.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.