The devil may get in by the keyhole, but the door won't let him out.魔鬼能从锁孔里进来,但打开门却放不出去。
谚语中所谓get in by the keyhole,是说锁孔虽小也能钻进来。the door won't let him out是说大门敞开,当然通过要容易得多,但是反而不肯出去,这是极言其进之易,出之难。
下面一句也是以devil作比喻,意思相同:
It is easier to raise the devil than to lay him.
招鬼容易,驱鬼难。
以上所说之“鬼”,主要用来比喻“坏人”,就是劝告人们要提防坏人,不要去做所谓“引狼入室”、“开门揖盗”的蠢事。
“鬼”也可以比喻坏习惯或坏思想,因为坏的东西学起来容易,要改掉就很困难了:
That which is evil is soon learnt.或An evil lesson is soon learnt.
恶行易学,恶习易染。
“鬼”也可以比喻坏事或灾害,它们来得快,但要克服、拯救起来却很困难。这点可与另一组谚语作比较:Misfortunes come on wings and depart on foot.