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better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

UK saying

Definition

said when you think it is wiser to deal with someone or something familiar, although you do not like them, than to deal with someone or something that you do not know, that might be worseCautious and vigilantPaying attention and being careful
(Definition of better the devil you know (than the devil you don't) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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