Pass one's life in retrospect with enthusiasm for the devil's buttermilk perhaps (4,6)

I believe the answer is:

evil spirit

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'retrospect with enthusiasm for the devil's buttermilk perhaps' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'pass one's life' is the wordplay.
'pass one' becomes 'evil' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'life' becomes 'spirit' ('spirit' can be a synonym of 'life').
'evil'+'spirit'='EVIL SPIRIT'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.

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