a redeeming feature
redeeming feature
Some positive, favorable, or beneficial trait or aspect of someone or something that offsets or makes up for other negative traits. The one redeeming feature of my long commute to work is that I get the chance to read plenty of books. He has a lot of faults, but his loyalty is his most redeeming feature. This movie is a total failure on every level, with no redeeming features to speak of.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
a redeeming ˈfeature
something good or positive about somebody/something that is otherwise bad: Her one redeeming feature is her generosity. ♢ The only redeeming feature of the hotel was the swimming pool. Apart from that, it was the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017