Take at face value Meaning in English
expression
Definition
To accept something as true or genuine based only on how it appears, without looking for deeper meaning or questioning it.
Usage & Nuances
This idiom is often used as advice or warning, suggesting someone shouldn't 'take at face value' what they see or hear. Formal or informal—a common phrase in both spoken and written English. Not the same as 'take literally,' though similar.
Example Sentences
Don't take at face value everything you read online.
basic
She tends to take at face value what her friends say.
basic
If you take at face value their offer, you might be disappointed.
basic
Sometimes it's smart not to take at face value what people promise.
natural
He always tells jokes, so I never take at face value what he says.
natural
You can't just take at face value those reviews—you have to read between the lines.
natural