give (someone) credit

1. To give someone praise or recognition. We must give Samantha credit for getting the project finished on time. You have to give John credit for the humility he shows regarding his financial success. Why won't you give me credit? I came up with that idea, and you know it!

2. To grant or extend financial credit to someone. The shop gave us credit for the faulty television we bought last week. If the bank agrees to give me credit, I'll finally be able to get my business up and running. Do you honestly expect that company to give you credit when you're already in so much debt?

give credit

1. Also, extend credit. Trust someone to pay at some future time what he or she owes. For example, I haven't enough cash this month, so I hope they'll give me credit. This use of credit dates from the mid-1500s.

2. Acknowledge an accomplishment, as in They really should give her credit for the work she's done. [Late 1700s] The phrase is sometimes amplified to give credit where credit is due, meaning the acknowledgment should be to the person who deserves it. This expression was probably coined by Samuel Adams in a letter (October 29, 1777), which put it: "Give credit to whom credit due." It is sometimes put give someone their due, as in We should really give Nancy her due for trying to sort out this mess.