说句公道话，实事求是地讲
said when you are praising someone for something good they have done, although you dislike other things about them
He failed again, but to give him his due, he did try hard. 他又失败了，但说句公道话，他确实尽力了。
To give her her due, she was the opposite of workshy.
He wasn't a natural leader, it's true, but to give him his due, it wasn't for lack of effort.
You have to give him his due: he did his best and that's all you can ask for, really.
I know the company failed, but to give them their due, they really made a go of it.
See also: due noun