Last Updated：2025/11/23

(idiomatic) To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.

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give the devil his due

Source Word

give the devil his due

Verb

idiomatic

(idiomatic) To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.

Japanese Meaning

嫌いまたは不快な人の良い面や長所を認めること / 相手の欠点を越えて、公正さや評価すべき点を認める行動

Although I can't stand his politics, I must give the devil his due for negotiating such a fair deal.

彼の政治姿勢は受け入れがたいが、これほど公平な取引をまとめた点については功績を認めなければならない。

Sense（1）

(idiomatic) To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.

[…]for he was never yet a breaker of

proverbs: he will give the devil his due.

gives the devil his due

（ present singular third-person ）

giving the devil his due

（ participle present ）

gave the devil his due

（ past ）

given the devil his due

（ participle past ）