Idiom · C1 · Neutral · often used when caution or skepticism is needed
take something at face value
Accept a statement, appearance, or situation as it seems, without questioning it or checking more deeply.
prihvatiti nešto zdravo za gotovo; poverovati onome što se vidi ili kaže bez provere
Memory scene
A flawless mask is offered face-first, while a magnifying glass reveals rough repairs behind it. The surface may not tell the whole story.
How it sounds
tayk sum-thing at FAYS VAL-yoo
Stress face value; change take for tense and replace something with the actual object.
Build the sentence
take + statement, claim, appearance, or information + at face value
Use it
The figures look impressive, but I would not take them at face value until we see how they were calculated.
The speaker postpones acceptance until the evidence is checked.
She took his calm reply at face value and did not notice that he was avoiding the question.
An outward appearance was accepted without looking for a hidden motive.
Watch out
This does not mean evaluate something according to its literal financial face value. In this idiom, the point is uncritical acceptance; it often appears in warnings not to do that.
Nearby language
The closest plain paraphrase, with the lack of scrutiny stated directly.
Means believe what a person says without proof; at face value can also concern appearances, figures, or situations.
Usually means assume something is true or fail to appreciate it, not merely accept its surface appearance.
Make it yours
Dobavljač tvrdi da je ponuda najjeftinija, ali još niste uporedili skrivene naknade.