Figura diabła wykorzystywana do wartościowania działań człowieka we frazematyce

The paper presents phrasemes from the lexical-semantic field DIABEŁ (DEVIL) in an anthropocentric perspective. The purpose is to describe these units that show what features and aspects of man’s activity – manifested in undertaking and carrying out different actions – have made these actions acquire a devilish character in phrasematics, and consequently – negative evaluation. A significant majority of phrasemes name behaviours, which – taking into account the way in which the actions are performed, as well as their intensity – are distinguished by lack of moderation and exceeding the conventionally accepted norm. As extremes located on the right side of the axis (slowly – fast, little – much, quietly – loudly), according to a popular belief (colloquial, sensible rationality – common-sense knowledge) are treated as unnatural and do not gain acceptance.