It may also owe something to his ownership of, or potential influence over, so much of the Italian news media.

"He owes his success to your early discipline, of course."

He owed her, of course, but only so much.

Ah, Herbert, what do we not all owe to that dear good brother of yours?

I've never thought the world owed me a living - certainly not a living of my own choosing; at best a minimal safety net.

During his playing career, Hartfield suffered from a gambling addiction, and in 2006 he still owed debts of "£40,000 or £50,000".

But to what do we owe this fortunate change of heart, dear lady?

He wondered how much of that was owing to George's own experience's in exile and out of it.

Perhaps it owed a little of its spectacular refulgence to chemistry, Hilton thought, but not too much.