The Devil Made Me Do It!

[HashiriKata]

I didn't know that Cantonese used a different character here.

But I think 魔怪 is used in Mandarin as well. No?

[renzhe]

But not for devil?

Anyway, we're steering off-topic. I'm quite content to know that the gremlins are 魔怪 and not 魔鬼

[Guittar]

The cultural context of this is not what it actually says. Flip was saying the the mischievous side of himself decided to do something bad, not an actual devil. That is why it is funny! There does not have to be a devil, and it is different than the "devil" that tempted Eve. ( a Christian Bible story ) Geraldine (Flip dressed as a woman) was a very funny character.

[in_lab]

Without having seen the comedy bit, here is my joke analysis: He is saying that the devil that tempted Eve made him do something bad. If you don't understand the cultural context of a devil that tempts people to sin, it wouldn't make much sense. Its funniness depends on what he "did". The more ridiculous the notion that the devil actually made him do it, the funnier it is. If you say, I killed a man because the devil made me do it, then it's not funny.

[Euarne]

I think Tina is right

鬼使神差 is really suitable

and the difference between 魔怪 and 魔鬼

魔怪 seems to be like Godzilla

魔鬼 is Devil like Lucifer

[leeyah]

Just came across 鬼迷心窍 and it made me think of this thread.

I Baidu-ed and found an interesting explanation of the phenomenon of being possessed & tempted to do things which one would otherwise never even dream of doing. It seems that the 'evil ones' can steal not only your heart, but also your mind (shiver):

古人以为人的思考和情感器官是心窍，所以出了问题怪鬼偷了心，其实是脑子烧掉了。如果真有鬼，人不正常了那很有可能是陆判帮人换了脑子。这个不正常的人继而很有可能行为鬼头鬼脑，看事情鬼神颠倒，莫名其妙伤心得鬼哭狼嚎，然后鬼使神差做一些正常人都看不懂的事。

Some context >>我真是鬼迷心窍了,把坏人当好人。

Also, mogui in a different context >>身材魔鬼诱惑 used for 'devilishly' attractive body (of a female mingxing)

[isela]

@ Leeyah:

You're right. And sometimes people would say that a woman has "魔鬼的身材和魔鬼的脸蛋"... And this is NOT a compliment anymore...

[trien27]

"魔鬼的身材和魔鬼的脸蛋"

Wrong. It should be "天使的脸孔和魔鬼的身材"

Source: 0:51 in this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mau8Uf0f8do

PS Even though the video is in Traditional Chinese characters, you can still see what I mean. Only 脸 = 臉 in the video.

[Kenny同志]

Well, this reminds me of another interesting expression, that is, 冲动是魔鬼.

The devil made me do it. Hmmm, I think 是魔鬼逼我（这么）做or 干的 retains the humour, quite acceptable indeed.

Some context >>我真是鬼迷心窍了,把坏人当好人。

鬼迷心窍 sounds somewhat serious. Of course, the option you propose would be a perfect one when in a suitable context. 在下佩服.

God made me do it.

How about 是菩萨逼我这么做的.