attribute something to somebody/something phrasal verb ( see also ↑ attribute )
1 . to believe or say that a situation or event is caused by something:
The fall in the number of deaths from heart disease is generally attributed to improvements in diet.
2 . if people in general attribute a particular statement, painting, piece of music etc to someone, they believe that person said it, painted it etc:
a saying usually attributed to Confucius
3 . to believe or say that someone or something has a particular quality:
One should not attribute human motives to animals.
—attribution /ˌætrəˈbjuːʃ ə n, ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable]