Would you like to say 'good riddance' to someone or something, or point out that someone deserves credit for something that is the worst kind of accomplishment? The phrase 'give the devil his due' is a common saying in the English language. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this saying.
Meaning
The phrase '[to] give the devil his due' is a common saying that is used in the English language to mean that someone deserves credit for something – usually something that is not described as good.
The phrase has mostly insulting and negative implications, and the meaning sometimes extends to being similar to 'face the music'.
The context of the phrase is generally specified by the discussion that surrounds what has been said.
The phrase 'giving the devil his due' can be used as a direct reference when speaking to someone, but it can also be used as a reference for a third-party being discussed by the speakers.
The expression can also be used in the negative form as either 'not giving the devil his due' or '[they/he] didn't give the devil his due'.
The phrase 'face the music' can have similar implications as 'giving the devil his due'.
Example Usage
“My father stole something and went to jail for about six months for it. He didn't like it, but my mother always said that you had to give the devil his due.”
“You've sold fifty million albums and yet you're still an asshole. I guess you've got to give the devil his due.”
“You have to give the devil his due: he was an unpleasant person, but at least he left you and your mother when you were three so you didn't have to get to know him that much.
“I don't believe anyone could have held him accountable for his actions but the judge, and the judge managed to put him away for at least ten years. You've got to give the devil his due.”
Origin
The origin of the phrase 'give the devil his due' is agreed to be from the works of the author William Shakespeare, more specifically from Henry V.
After the publication and spread of Henry V and its text through the 1600s, the phrase would become popular as a saying that is common in the English language.
As with many phrases that came from Shakespeare's work, the phrase would rise in popular in the 1900s with the introduction of the film industry: modern adaptations of Shakespeare's work would do a great deal to shape modern language.
Phrases Similar to Give the Devil His Due
- Face the music
Phrases Opposite to Give the Devil His Due
- N/a
What is the Correct Saying?
- Give the devil his due
- Giving the devil his due
Ways People May Say Give the Devil His Due Incorrectly
There are several incorrect ways in which someone can use the phrase 'give the devil his due' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the meaning of the saying.
The phrase is often misused as 'give the devil his do' which renders an incorrect expression as it should be 'due'.
Sometimes the meaning of the phrase is often misunderstood, especially when the phrase is translated into other languages with no direct equivalent for the saying.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Give the Devil His Due
There are several correct ways in which someone can use the saying 'give the devil his due', including to say the phrase as 'to give the devil his due' or as 'giving the devil his due'.
The phrase can have humorous implications, though is mostly said as a serious figurative statement when it is used.
The phrase can be used in the negative form as 'not giving the devil his due' to render the opposite meaning, or to imply that one person owes another something.