Example: You should not believe everything at face value.
Definition
"At face value" means accepting something based on its apparent or literal meaning without questioning or analyzing it further. For example, believing a statement 'at face value' implies trusting what is directly presented without doubt or suspicion.
The phrase "at face value" originates from the world of finance, where the 'face value' refers to the nominal worth printed on a coin or banknote. Over time, it came to mean accepting something just as it appears, without deeper scrutiny or adjustment. Did you know this phrase is often used metaphorically beyond money and documents?
Learn to use this expression actively
"At face value" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 130 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
