equivalent in Russian?

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

I am looking for a way to say in Russian the following:

"devil's advocate"

"to play the role of devil's advocate"

I understand that there is probably no direct translation for this, but I'm wondering if there is anything close to this phrase in Russian... If any one has any ideas/suggestions, I'd appreciate it. I've been going through my dictionary and I'm coming up with nothing.

Oh, and in case it isn't clear what this means in English, I define it as "to argue the opposite side (just for fun/practice/perspective) in an argument."

Comments

[halina.livejournal.com]

It is the direct translation - адвокат дьявола. But it is familiar may be to well-educated people.

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

Could you say "играть на адвокат дьявола ролом" ?

Do you have any examples of how to use it in a sentence?

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

играть на адвокат дьявола ролом
This makes no sense at all. Maybe yu meant "играть роль адвоката дьявола"?

[halina.livejournal.com]

I can say "играть роль адвоката дьявола" but better "быть в роли адвоката дьявола".

[orloffm.livejournal.com]

"to argue the opposite side (just for fun/practice/perspective) in an argument."
I can't remember any phrases meaning the same thing. One will say something like "спорит ради спора", "спорит ради самого процесса", etc.

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

That's arguing for the sake of arguing, which isn't quite the same.

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

How would you define it then?

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

Well it's just that спорить ради спора is a broader concept, which doesn't necessarily involve arguing the opposite of what you believe.

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

since I thought there was no direct translation, I was searching for a definition...

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

The expression «адвокат дьявола» does exist in Russian. It was popularised by the 1997 film, but its original meaning, just as in English, is the advocatus diaboli of the Catholic canonisation procedure.

[irishotel.livejournal.com]

and what does that mean?

[spiderhood.livejournal.com]

That's something only encyclopaediae (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01168b.htm) know ;)

[irishotel.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

"To play the role of devil's advocate" is "выступать адвокатом дьявола".

[red-kitti.livejournal.com]

Perfect. Спасибо!

[ex-ex-mmnd9.livejournal.com]

or "выглядит как" instead of "выступает"
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