“Not today, Satan” has been a common phrase, and is seen everywhere from TV shows to online memes and even song lyrics. But what you might not be sure of is where the phrase comes from and how it was popularised…
This article is going to tell you everything you need to know. We’ll kick things off with what the phrase means before moving onto how the phrase originated, followed by who popularised it and how. We will then discuss some of the different ways the phrase can be used and we’ll go through many of the notable ways it has been used in literature and the media.
Of course, we will also be touching on similar and synonymous phrases, and we’ll even throw in the lyrics for the song Not Today Satan by KB (featuring Andy Mineo) as a bonus, before rounding off with a section answering your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get down to business.
What’s the meaning of the phrase “Not today, Satan”?
People say “Not today, Satan” as a humorous way of saying that they refuse to succumb to temptation. They might say this to ward off misfortune, or express determination against a challenge or negative thought. People often use the phrase to help empower them in the face of temptation or negative forces and their consequences.
While the phrase is best understood in the context of Abrahamic religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the phrase is widely understood, and you are also quite likely to hear it from atheists who don’t really believe in God and Satan. Let’s explore the meaning further…
Who is Satan?
Satan, also known as the Devil, is an entity in the Christian, Jewish and Islamic religions who is simultaneously seen as the primary adversary of God and the personification of evil. Satan is believed to tempt and deceive humans into sin, and leads demonic forces who seek to thwart God’s plan. He is often identified as the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
Thus, by telling Satan “not today” you could be seen as overcoming evil and achieving a spiritual victory.
What’s the origin of the phrase “Not today, Satan”?
While the precise phrase “Not today, Satan” cannot be found in the Christian Bible, the idea of Satan representing temptation and evil does come from the Bible. There are two Bible verses that are relevant here.
For example, in Matthew 16:23, after Jesus told his disciples about his upcoming suffering and death, Peter tried to stop him. Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me”.
Also, in James 4:7, the verse provides a similar instruction, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. This reinforces the idea of actively resisting Satan’s influence.
It is not known when the precise phrase “Not today, Satan” was coined, but we do know who popularised it in recent years…
The phrase is widely credited with being popularised on television by Bianca Del Rio (real name Roy Haylock) during the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6, shown in 2014. This performance, as well as later references by Bianca, including a stand-up/comedy tour titled Not Today Satan, helped to popularise the phrase.
This campy one-liner really caught on, as campy one liners so often tend to do. It went viral and was the seed of many a meme, and has since also appeared as a song title, as a book title, as a TV drama episode title, as a reality TV show episode title. (More on this to follow shortly.)
The specific meme-form “Not today, Satan” appears to have crystallised as a pop-culture one-liner in the 2010s, with Bianca’s televised usage accelerating its visibility.
How people use the phrase “Not today, Satan” - featuring multiple sentence examples
Here are some example conversation snippets using the phrase, to show you the wide variety of instances the phrase can come in handy, usually as a humorous remark, but occasionally as an expression of defiance. Sometimes as both.
Alex: “Want to hit the dessert table again? Those triple-chocolate brownies look dangerous.”
Jordan: “I already had two. Not today, Satan. I need to fit into these jeans tomorrow.”
Tempted person: “I could just skip church this week and binge my Netflix show…”
Friend: “Nope. Not today, Satan. We’re sitting in the front pew.”
Text from Sam: “U up? Want to hang out?”
Reply from Taylor: “Lol. Not today, Satan. I’ve got a big exam tomorrow.”
Person at fridge: “Leftover pizza at midnight? …Nope. Not today, Satan.”
Colleague 1: “Hey, the boss wants to move up the deadline by two days.”
Colleague 2 (under breath): “Not today, Satan… I’m leaving at five no matter what.”
Partner A: “So… I was thinking of starting a drum practice at six in the morning.”
Partner B: “Not today, Satan. And not tomorrow either.”
Trainer: “Come on, give me one more set of burpees!”
Client: “Not today, Satan. My legs already signed a peace treaty.”
Comedian (on stage): “My alarm went off at 5 a.m. for yoga class. I rolled over, looked at my mat, and said: ‘Not today, Satan.’ Then I went back to sleep.”
Child: “Can we get a puppy, a snake, and a tarantula all in one day?”
Parent: “Not today, Satan. Maybe we’ll start with a goldfish.”
Barista: “Would you like to upgrade that to a venti caramel mocha with extra whipped cream?”
Customer: “Tempting… but not today, Satan. Just a plain latte, thanks.”
Manager: “Let’s add one more item to the agenda.”
Employee (whispering): “Not today, Satan… we’ve been here for two hours.”
Teacher: “Who wants to solve the calculus problem on the board?”
Student: “Not today, Satan. My brain clocked out an hour ago.”
Date 1: “So, how do you feel about pineapple on pizza?”
Date 2: “Not today, Satan. Let’s not fight before dessert.”
Job applicant before an interview (internal monologue): “Sweaty palms? Forgetting my answers? Not today, Satan. I’ve got this.”
The tone can range from playful (“not eating dessert”) to dramatic (“facing a horror villain”), which is why it crosses so easily between real-life banter and scripted film/TV dialogue. Its performative punch comes from addressing “Satan” as a metaphor for whatever force is being resisted, whether its deadlines, cravings, fears, or actual evil.
In addition to the phrase “Not today, Satan” people also use minor variants of the phrase, such as “No, Satan, not today”.
What are some alternative ways of saying “Not today, Satan”?
There are several similar and synonymous phrases that can often be used in place of “not today, Satan”. Here are some examples you might consider using if you so wish:
- No way, hose
- Absolutely not
- Not a chance
- No thanks
- Not happening
- Never
- Not today demon
- Nothing can alter my resolve
- No, I’m determined not to
- No, I’m not even tempted
- No, I’m staying strong
- No, I’ll be the better person
There are also several synonyms for the word Satan. Here are some examples@
- Devil
- Lucifer
- Prince of Darkness
- Beelzebub
- Evil one
- Serpent
- Fiend
Notable uses of the phrase “Not today, Satan” in literature and the media
Literature
Interestingly, the precise phrase “Not today, Satan” does not appear in English translations of the Christian Bible, although there are similar phrases.
There is a book called Not Today, Satan (Maybe Tomorrow) which is a collection of poetry. It was written by Andrew Shaffer and published in 2023.
Surprisingly, there are no known instances of the phrase “Not today, Satan” in popular comic books or graphic novels.
TV
The contemporary drama Good American Family lists Episode 6 as “Not Today Satan”, originally distributed in April 2025 on streaming platforms.
The Discovery Channel series Naked and Afraid has an episode titled “Not Today, Satan” (Season 15, Episode 10), first aired in 2023.
The phrase (or minor variants) appear in dialogue across several scripted television series and films. Examples include Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (a line transcribed as “Well, I say, not today, Satan”), Inventing Anna (a clip with “No. Not today, Satan.”), and an instance in the 2021 film Halloween Kills where a character reportedly says, or misquotes, the line in the form “Satan, not today.”
Music
The American Christian hip-hop artist KB (real name Kevin Elijah Burgess) wrote a song called Not Today, Satan which features Andy Mineo, which was released in 2017. You can read on to discover the full lyrics.
The lyrics for the song Not Today Satan by KB featuring Andy Mineo
[Chorus: KB & Andy Mineo]
Not today Satan
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Ooh
No no ’round me
Ooh, yeah yeah yeah
Not today Satan
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
No no ’round me
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Get away ’round me
Not today Satan, not today
Not today
[Verse 1: KB]
Yeah, I live my life on the regular, ayy
But his attacks are perpetual, ayy
Forbidden Fruit seem so edible, ayy
You try resist like ellipticals, train
My mama told me it’s spiritual, ayy
So I’m under armor like I’m Curry, look
You cannot bear with the boy, yeah
This is not the Jungle Book (Uh)
Accuse me, know he would (Uh)
I’m just covered by the blood
Thinkin’ about the way that they did you serpent
Crushin’ like Valentine’s day
He sick with the mission, cross with the finish, swish
Don’t try to slide in my DM
OJ Simpson with the defense
Lake of fire, say we need him
Last weekend, but
[Chorus: KB & Andy Mineo]
Not today Satan
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Ooh
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
No no ’round me
Ooh, yeah yeah yeah
Not today Satan
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Ayy, ayy, ayy
Not today Satan
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Not today Satan
Ooh
No no ’round me
Get away ’round me
Not today
[Verse 2: Andy Mineo]
Yeah uh, speak of the devil, ayy
I think I know where he live, ayy
I think he in politics, ayy
I think you gettin’ my drift, ayy
Yeah, I think he made the Explore page
I seen him at my last court date
I’m askin’, “Lord, give me more faith”
It’s cold in these street like a North Face
Ayy, gotta keep my face north
And I know my days short
So I stay woke, never daze off
‘Cause, uh, evil never takin’ no days off
Whoa there, big fella, don’t try it
Get that corn out my face, you know I’m on a diet
And I’m treatin’ all of your lie like United
That just ain’t flyin’
[Chorus: KB & Andy Mineo]
Not today Satan
Ooh
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Ayyy
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
You ain’t welcome ’round me
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Not today Satan (Satan, please don’t)
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah (Don’t you call me)
Ooh
(Please don’t, please don’t, don’t you call me)
You ain’t welcome ’round me (Oh God , yeah,Oh God, yeah, yeah)
You ain’t welcome ’round me (Oh God, yeah, yeah,Oh God)
Not today
[Bridge: KB]
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la la, la, la
Oh my God, now, ayy
[Verse 3: KB]
Yeah, I know your ways
Already read all your plays, yeah
I think I’m booked for tomorrow, yeah
And today just ain’t your day, ayy ayy
I see you feedin’ they hate
See the bodies that you take
We do not break, never no breaks
Buildin’ this place on top of your gates
Come and see me ’bout it, ooh
My squad too deep
Got it covered like Newsweek (Yeah!)
Kickin’ these facts like Bruce Lee, yeah
Before the W’s like UV, yeah yeah yeah
UV, Son gotta shine, Lord, use me
Hit ’em with the ooh
Grandma said, don’t let him fool ya
He bring up your past
Boy, bring up his future
Yeah, We not confused (Yeah, we not confused, we not confused)
Nah, nah, nah, nah
Yeah, Your name is racist, hatred, graceless (La, la, la, la, la, la)
All disgraces traces straight to your engagement
Deface the nations but on that day you face the Maker
Not to-Not today Satan
(Day, Satan, day, Satan)
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
(Yeah, I believe the voice on me)
(Believe the voice on me yeah)
[Outro: KB]
Yeah
Not today, Satan, not today
Amen
FAQ
Where in the Bible does it say “Not today, Satan”?
Interestingly, the exact phrase “Not today, Satan” does not appear in any English translation of the Christian Bible. That said however, there are similar phrases. For example, in Matthew 16:23, after Jesus told his disciples about his upcoming suffering and death, Peter tried to stop him. Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me”.
This is where the “Not today, Satan” sentiment comes from, when Jesus forcefully rejects Satan’s influence and temptation.
Who wrote the song “Not today, Satan”?
The song Not Today Satan comes from the American hip-hop artist and music executive KB, real name Kevin Elijah Burgess. It features Andy Mineo, and was released in 2017. It appears as Track 8 on the Album Today We Rebel.
Which comic books and graphic novels feature the phrase “Not today, Satan”?
Surprisingly, there are no known instances of the phrase “Not today, Satan” in popular comic books or graphic novels.
Is there a book called “Not today, Satan”?
There certainly is a book called Not Today, Satan (Maybe Tomorrow). It’s a collection of poems written by Andrew Shaffer and published in 2023. The book generally has good reviews and is frequently described as hilarious.
Final word
So, to sum up, when someone says “Not today, Satan” they are saying no to something, usually temptation, which is one of the things that Satan is believed to represent. People often use the phrase as a humorous quip, but other times it is used to denote defiance against something (again usually temptation).
Despite featuring a character from the Christian Bible, the phrase tends to be used by anybody and everybody, whether they believe in Satan or not. The phrase “Not today, Satan” doesn’t actually appear in the bible, although there is an instance in the bible which says “Get thee behind me, Satan” which pretty much amounts to the same thing, and can be described as the biblical basis for the phrase.
However, it was not until the 2010s that the phrase came into common parlance, and was soon snapped up for use in TV scripts, song titles, and book titles. It was Bianca Del Rio’s performance in the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 (2014), and their subsequent usage of the phrase that crystallised it as a pop-culture phenomenon.
