gain credit—
1. receive recognition, praise, or approval:
- It was Alberto Santos-Dumont who gained credit for building the first dirigible that could be maneuvered through the air.
2. complete a part of the higher education course (passing a test, etc.):
- Students may seek approval to use previously gained credit toward a new program of study.
3. (of rumors, etc.) acquire credence; be generally believed:
- An accusation so improbable gained but little credit.
get credit—
1. = gain credit 1:
- The governor, who has the lowest approval rating of any California governor, doesn’t even get credit for what he has accomplished.
2. = gain credit 2:
- Students may not get credit for more than one writing intensive course in a semester.
3. be allowed a period of time before one has to pay for goods and services:
- In many cases rural households get credit for the goods they purchase from traders.