netigen wrote:both seem to be acceptable idioms. What the factor that helps us decide between the two in this case?[/b]

ah, but you see, that's the thing about idioms: they're idioms. there is no single factor that helps you decide, and, most of the time, there is no rhyme or reason at all. your best hope lies in memorization and familiarity.

many idioms are downright counterintuitive. for instance, if you break up with your girlfriend, then you have to say you broke up WITH her. does this make any sense? not at all: if you think about breaking up, the last word you'd use is 'with'. but that's the correct idiom, while eminently sensible alternatives (like 'from') are, well, wrong.

if you are a second- (or third- or nth-)language speaker of english, then the road of idiomatic usage is long and winding; keep a notebook of the forms that fool you, and study it regularly.

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as much as acclaimed to be might 'seem acceptable', well... it isn't. the correct form is as.