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take at face value
/teɪk æt feɪs væljuː/
accept something as true without questioning
She took his apology at face value and forgave him immediately.
She believed his apology without questioning its sincerity.
informal
To accept something as true or genuine without questioning or analyzing it further.
Investors should never take financial reports at face value; always verify the data.
Investors should not blindly accept financial reports as true without checking the details.
Don't take everything you read on the internet at face value.
Do not assume that all information on the internet is accurate without verifying it.
This phrase is often used to caution against blind trust in information or promises.
Collocations
take at face valueaccept without question
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use this phrase when advising someone to verify information before accepting it as true.
Gold Rule
Critical Thinking
Always question information that seems too good to be true or lacks evidence.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from the idea of judging something based solely on its outward appearance, without deeper analysis.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to advise caution against uncritical acceptance of information.
Word Breakdown
take
to accept or believe
verbat face value
based on outward appearance only
phraseEnglish Dictionary