Said when someone appears just as they are being discussed; used to acknowledge the coincidental arrival of the person being talked about.
This phrase is a shortened version of the longer saying 'speak of the devil and he shall appear,' rooted in the old superstition that naming the devil would summon him. The expression dates back to at least the 16th century, though it was originally used seriously as a warning against invoking evil.
The phrase has completely shed its supernatural origins and become a cheerful greeting, showing how language can transform from fearful superstition to friendly acknowledgment. It's fascinating that we've kept the devil reference while draining it of all its original menace - few people today would hesitate to use it even in religious contexts.
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