GIVE and take is fair play
1778 F. BURNEY Evelina I. xxv. This here may be a French fashion.. but Give and
Take is fair in all nations. 1832 MARRYAT Newton Forster III. x. Give and take is fair
play. All I say is, let it be a fair stand-up fight. 1873 ‘TWAIN’ & WARNER Gilded Age
xxxiii. She thought that ‘give and take was fair play’, and to parry an offensive thrust
with a sarcasm was a neat and legitimate thing to do. fair dealing; tolerance
GIVE a thing, and take a thing, to wear the Devil’s gold ring
A rhyme used by schoolchildren when someone gives something and then asks for it back.
The principle is a very old one; cf. PLATO Philebus 19 E
as with children, there is no taking away of
what has been rightly given.
1571 J. BRIDGES Sermon at Paul’s Cross 29 Shal we make God to say the worde,
and eate his worde? to giue a thing, and take a thing, little children say, This is the diuels
goldring, not Gods gift. 1611 R. COTGRAVE Dict. French & English s.v. Retirer, To
giue a thing and take a thing; to weare the diuells gold-ring. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish
Proverbs 120 Give a Thing, and take a Thing, Is the ill Man’s Goud Ring. A Cant among
Children, when they demand a Thing again, which they had bestowed. 1894 Notes &
Queries 8th Ser. VI. 155 Another saying among boys is—Give a thing and take a thing,
To wear the devil’s gold ring. 1959 I. & P. OPIE Lore & Language of Schoolchildren viii.
It is a cardinal rule amongst the young that a thing which has been given must not be
asked for again. .. [Somerset] Give a thing, take a thing, Dirty man’s plaything. ..
[Cheshire] Give a thing, take a thing, Never go to God again. giving and receiving
GIVE the Devil his due
Also in the phrase to give the Devil his due.
1589 LYLY Pap with Hatchet III. 407 Giue them their due though they were diuels..
and excuse them for taking anie money at interest. 1596 NASHE Saffron Walden III. 36
Giue the diuell his due. 1642 Prince Rupert’s Declaration 2 The Cavaliers (to give the
Divell his due) fought very valiantly. 1751 SMOLLETT Peregrine Pickle I. xvii. You
always used me in an officer-like manner, that I must own, to give the devil his due. 1936
H. AUSTIN Murder of Matriarch xxiii. To give the devil his due.. I don’t think that Irvin