Make a deal with the devil

Generated image of someone making a deal with the devil
To make a deal with the devil means to accept help or an offer from someone bad or dangerous in order to get something you want. It suggests that the benefit comes with a serious cost or moral problem.

The phrase comes from old stories where a person trades their soul to the devil for power, wealth, or success. People use it when someone chooses a risky or unethical option because it seems useful at the time.

Signing that contract felt like I was about to make a deal with the devil.