If I give you the example of what I was thinking when I wrote that.... Theres a guy at my work, sort of high up manager but not in my "line of reporting" although he does sometimes get involved in my work. When he gets involved with me, because I am not one of his minions, he is very helpful and doesn't say much out of turn. However, he is widely known as a bully and I have personally witnessed him treating folk under him like utter shite. Despite this, a lot of folk trot out the "yeah but hes helped me before/been ok with me" type patter. Aye he's helped me before too, but he's still demonstrably a horrible c**t.
I don't know what they mean, but they do really annoy me.