I take credit for Paul.

Question

Could you please  tell me how to understand the sentence as titled? Thank you.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

'I take credit' can be understood as claiming responsibility.

For example, an athlete's coach can 'take credit' for the athlete's improvement in performance or victory if that coach's actions have caused the aformentioned improvement in performance or victory. However, this statement is rarely used as fact, but as a claim of skill and/or achievement.

'for Paul', in this context, can be understood as Paul's actions or achievements , or possibly even the creation of Paul itself(if not a person).

Therefore, the meaning of this sentence is that:

'It is my actions that caused Paul's actions.'

-The nature of these 'actions' may be clarified in a seperate scentence.

or

'Due to what I have done, Paul has achieved this.'

-with 'this' presumedly refering to an event mentioned in a previous scentence.

or

'Paul has done this, because of what I did'

-again, 'this' must be specified in another scentence

I take credit for Paul.

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