owe (something) to (someone or something)
owe (something) to (someone or something)
1. To be obliged to give or pay something back to someone or something else. I owe a new bike to David because I got his run over by a street cleaner. We owe about $1,500 to the bank for the loan we used to pay for our wedding.
2. To attribute one's possession or acquisition of something to someone or something else. I truly owe my happiness to you—I love you so much. The country owes its wealth and global influence to the vast mineral reserves buried in its hills.
See also: owe
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
owe to
v.
1. To be in debt by some amount to someone: I owe $100 to my brother.
2. To have something because of something or someone else: The family owed its wealth to oil. I owe my rosy complexion to my mother.
See also: owe
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- (someone or something) promises well
- a/the feel of (something)
- (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
- (have) got something going (with someone)
- a straw will show which way the wind blows
- a slew of (something)
- accompanied by
- accompanied by (someone or something)
- accompany
- a crack at (someone or something)