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Phrase(s): All’s fair in love and war.
Prov. Cliché In some situations, such as when you are in love or waging war, you are allowed to be deceitful in order to get what you want. (Often said as an excuse for deception.) • I cheated on the entrance exam, but I really want to get into that school, and all’s fair in love and war. • To get Judy to go out with him, Bob lied and told her that her boyfriend was seeing another woman. All’s fair in love and war.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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Any conduct is permissible in certain circumstances, as in Of course he called her? all's fair in love and war. This maxim, stated in various forms from 1579 on, today sometimes appears altered by an addition or substitution, as in All's fair in love and the World Series, or All's fair in love and war and an election year.
American Heritage Idioms