ENGLISH
REFERENCE

be attributed to sb

idiom
Meaning

to say or believe that someone is the creator or cause of something.


Examples
SIMPLE

This beautiful painting is attributed to a famous artist.

CONTEXTUAL

Many of the most popular quotes on the internet are incorrectly attributed to people who never actually said them.

COMPLEX

The sudden shift in the company's financial strategy is widely attributed to the new director, whose reputation for aggressive growth precedes him.

Last updated April 22, 2026