Quote:
|
Originally Posted by leta And I would still wonder about the key difference between “refer to” and “owe to”…. Could anybody explain me? |
As for "owe" and the context we're dealing with, it means,
be indepted or
be obliged for, and it's reflexive; e.g.,
I owe
my good fortune to . . . ;
They owe
their good fortune to . . .
EX: *
Many people owe Gray's success to his intelligence and hard work.
EX:
Many people owe their success to their intelligence and hard work.
Note that, "owe
reflexive X to" is
near synonymous with "refer/attribute
reflexive X to".
EX: Many people
?refer/attribute their success to . . .
EX: Many people
owe their success to . . .
- To be indebted to the amount of: He owes me five dollars.
- To have a moral obligation to render or offer: I owe them an apology.
- To be in debt to: We owe the plumber for services rendered.
- To be indebted or obliged for: owed their riches to oil; owes her good health to diet and exercise.
- To bear (a certain feeling) toward a person or persons: You seem to owe your neighbors a grudge.
- Archaic. To have as a possession; own.
v. intr.
To be in debt: She still owes for the car.