Are you determined to avoid bad behavior? Perhaps someone is attempting to goad you into an argument but you are not interested? If so, one apt phrase to use is not today, Satan. It is a great way to indicate that you are not to be tempted or goaded regardless of the situation. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase “not today, Satan” is something people say when they overcome something particularly challenging. If someone is faced with something that they should not be able to do, but they do it anyway, they may comment, “not today, Satan”, meaning that even such powerful forces as Satan himself was not going to stop that person from achieving that thing.
It is also commonly used to express resistance to an action, thought or idea.
This phrase can also be used when someone is referring to something bad that could have happened, but they avoided it. Though this phrase could be used in a religious setting, it is not often used by people who are actually religious. Caution is important when determining who to say this phrase around, especially if you know that someone is very religious and may find something like this offensive.
It is typically used by teenagers and young adults more so than the older generation. More information can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
“Someone almost hit me on the highway this morning, but I swerved out of the way. Not today, Satan.”
“I didn’t study very much for the exam, but I still passed anyway. I’m not failing this class. Not today, Satan.”
“I thought I was going to get fired from my job because I was running late this morning, but I still made it on time. Not today, Satan.”
“I barely got any sleep last night and haven’t had my coffee this morning, but I’m not skipping the gym. Not today, Satan.”
Origin
RuPaul’s Drag Race is a popular reality television show where drag queens compete in various challenges in front of RuPaul and other guest judges, in hopes of winning the season. The show has been running since 2009 and has a total of fourteen seasons. One of the contestants, Bianca Del Rio, is quoted as saying “not today, Satan, not today” in the final episode of season six, as a response to one of the other contestants on the show calling her out for creating looks that “are always the same”.
The phrase was a quick success and grew exponentially on the Internet after that. Del Rio even used the phrase as the title of a comedy show tour she went on in 2016. Various different kinds of merchandise, including t-shirts, mugs, posters, and the like, can be found all over the Internet with the phrase “not today, Satan” printed on them.
Phrases Similar to Not Today, Satan
- No way
- Absolutely not
- No/nah/nope/etc.
Phrases Opposite to Not Today, Satan
- Yeah/yes/etc.
- Nice!
- Wow!
- Cool!
What is the Correct Saying?
- “Not today, Satan” is, itself, the correct saying.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Not Today, Satan
The phrase is used to convey an accomplishment that was difficult or challenging, or having avoided something bad happening. Attempting to use the term to refer to something bad happening, or something that was not a challenge would be incorrect. Some ways that “not today, Satan” is used incorrectly are:
- I lost my job this morning. Not today, Satan.
- I just flunked my physics test. Not today, Satan.
- I had to drop out of college because I was failing everything. Not today, Satan.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Not Today, Satan
- I just got my dream job! Not today, Satan.
- I thought I was going stain my best shirt after spilling coffee on it, but the stain came out. Not today, Satan!
- I was worried I wouldn’t have enough for rent, but my boss just gave me a raise! Not today, Satan.