(speak|talk) of the devil
1
said when one is in the middle of a conversation about a particular person and that person suddenly shows up
The idiom "speak of the devil" originates from an older, superstitious belief that mentioning the devil's name or discussing the devil could attract his attention or presence. To drive away potential harm or bad luck, people would often follow such a mention with a phrase like "speak of the devil" as a way to acknowledge the potential consequences humorously or to ease any discomfort associated with the superstition. In modern usage, it serves as a casual way to remark on someone who has been mentioned just as they enter the conversation.
- I was telling Jane about your recent success, and you walked in – talk of the devil.
- We were just talking about you, and here you are – speak of the devil!
- Speak of the devil!We were discussing our next meeting, and you called at the right moment.
- We were talking about the new project lead, and she appeared – talk of the devil.
- I mentioned your name, and suddenly, you walked through the door – speak of the devil!