give credit

The older form with honour (principally in the sense ‘obeisance, homage’) is now rare. Cf. romans xiii. 7 (Reims) Render therefore to all men their due:‥to whom honour, honour.

May Honor be given to whom Honor may be due.
[1777 S. Adams Letter 29 Oct. in Collections of Massachusetts Hist. Society (1917) LXXII. 375]

Loudon must be a man of taste‥and disposed to give all credit where any credit is due.
[1834 M. Floy Diary 17 Jan. (1941) 50]

The justice and magnanimity which would show ‘honour to whom honour is due’‥is not always found equal to the occasion when it involves the granting of a degree.
[1894 Girl's Own Paper 6 Jan. 228]

You aren't half as daft as I thought. ‥Credit where credit's due.
[1968 M. Woodhouse Rock Baby xxii.]

‘Some maniac. ‥’ ‘Come now, give credit where credit is due,’ interrupted Dr. Board.
[1976 T. Sharpe Wilt viii.]

Express your gratitude. Give credit when it's due—and even when it isn't.
[2002 Washington Post 1 Jan. C14]

Related to: fair dealing; just deserts

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.

1.  Also, extend credit. Trust someone to pay at some future time what he or she owes. For example, I haven't enough cash this month, so I hope they'll give me credit. This use of credit dates from the mid-1500s.
2.  Acknowledge an accomplishment, as in They really should give her credit for the work she's done. [Late 1700s] The phrase is sometimes amplified to give credit where credit is due, meaning the acknowledgment should be to the person who deserves it. This expression was probably coined by Samuel Adams in a letter (October 29, 1777), which put it: "Give credit to whom credit due." It is sometimes put give someone their due, as in We should really give Nancy her due for trying to sort out this mess.