“To give the devil his due” is an idiom that means acknowledging the good qualities, merits, or achievements of a person you dislike or disagree with. It is used to show fairness by admitting that even someone generally considered bad has some redeeming traits. [1, 2, 3]
Examples in a sentence:
- “I really don’t like the new manager, but give the devil his due, sales have significantly improved.”
- “I can’t stand his politics, but give the devil his due, he is a brilliant public speaker.” [4]
Origin:This expression dates back to at least the late 16th century. It famously appeared in William Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part 1 (1597), where a character refers to it as an already existing proverb. [4, 5]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[2] https://nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/famous/give-the-devil-his-due/
[4] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/give-the-devil-his-due
[5] https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/176900.html
Here are a few different ways you can use this idiom, depending on the context.
Examples in Everyday Scenarios
- In the workplace: “She is always late to meetings, but give the devil his due, her designs are absolutely flawless.”
- In sports: “I hate that rival team, but give the devil his due, they played a perfect game tonight.”
- In a debate: “I completely disagree with his conclusion, but give the devil his due, his research is incredibly thorough.”
Dialogue Example
Person A:“I can’t believe Mark got the promotion. He is so arrogant and hard to work with.”
Person B:“True, but give the devil his due, he did land our biggest client last month.”
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