Give the devil his due
to acknowledge the good qualities of someone you dislike
Give the devil his due
to acknowledge the good qualities of someone you dislike
Learning Progress
Examples
"We should give the devil his due — he did complete the job despite his faults."
"Even though the policy is flawed, give the devil his due: it helped many people."
Mnemonic Trick
Meaning: even the devil merits some credit; concede merit.
Cultural Context
Formal/idiomatic; useful in balanced argumentative writing.
Continue Learning
Community Stats
Track Your Progress
Sign up to save your favorite words and track your learning progress across all vocabulary types.
Take your English vocabulary to the next level
Vocabulary Builder is a smart and comprehensive English vocabulary app designed to help you learn, remember, and master words effectively. Whether you are preparing for competitive exams or improving everyday English, the app goes beyond simple definitions to ensure deep understanding and long-term retention.
