give the devil his due

Verb

 * 1)  To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
 * 2) * 2007 April 5, Richard Schickel, "The Fog of War Resistance" (film review), Time:
 * We are obliged, at least this once, to give the devil his due — and to consider the possibility that he may even be, in this instance, the angel of bleak truthfulness.
 * 1) * 2007 April 5, Richard Schickel, "The Fog of War Resistance" (film review), Time:
 * We are obliged, at least this once, to give the devil his due — and to consider the possibility that he may even be, in this instance, the angel of bleak truthfulness.
 * We are obliged, at least this once, to give the devil his due — and to consider the possibility that he may even be, in this instance, the angel of bleak truthfulness.