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Is there a neutral-sounding (i.e. doesn't mention the devil) synonym for the idiom "speak of the devil"?

The idiom "are your ears burning" or a derivative of that wouldn't be great for this case because it's referring a non-person event that occurred (i.e. which doesn't have ears).

For example, talking about a computer sending an alert about a possible issue, then not getting any alerts for a while, then talking about the alerts the computer had sent in the past and right after that getting another alert.

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  • Could you give an example of a "non-person scenario" and how this idiom would be used?
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Commented Jan 28, 2016 at 22:09
  • @AndrewLeach For example, talking about a computer sending an alert about a possible issue, then not getting any alerts for a while, then talking about the alerts the computer had sent in the past and right after that getting another alert.
    – sa289
    Commented Jan 28, 2016 at 22:22
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    Well, I'd use "speak of the devil" for that.
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Commented Jan 28, 2016 at 22:27
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    "And, speaking of which..."
    – user867
    Commented Jan 28, 2016 at 22:31
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    And “wouldn’t you know it” it happened right after we got done talking about it.
    – Jim
    Commented Jan 28, 2016 at 22:39

2 Answers 2

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speaking of [substitute a noun]. If you are surprised by the arrival of something or someone, regardless of what it is, you may use /speaking of + noun/ "Speaking of planes, look John, there it is". "Speaking of friends, ours have just arrived." "Speaking of grammar, I knew there'd be a question about that."

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  • Good answer. And honorable mention to @user867's comment on the question of "speaking of which" for a more general approach.
    – sa289
    Commented Jan 29, 2016 at 0:42
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Perhaps, As I/you/he/she/we/they were saying... or, And right on cue... .

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  • "And right on cue..." will work for the traditional "person" scenarios where you want to avoid calling someone the devil! Thanks, Dan.
    – thomj1332
    Commented May 3, 2018 at 15:35

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