takes at face value
Believes without skepticism
To take something at face value is to accept it as it appears, without questioning hidden meanings or underlying motives.
I took his apology at face value.
The phrase often implies a degree of trust or naivety—someone who takes things at face value may miss deception or subtext.
The metaphor comes from currency: a coin's face value is its stamped denomination, regardless of its actual metal worth.
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- blind trustComplete unquestioning confidence
- gullibilityEase of being deceived
- hook line and sinkerCompletely and without reservation
- truthAccordance with reality
credulity · naivety · no questions asked · belief · benefit of the doubt · inference · doubt · overconfidence · communication · critical thinking · interpretation · literal · agreement · sincerity · white lies · skepticism · reasoning · misunderstanding
takes at face valuedeconstructs
Analyzes by breaking apart
overthinks · unpacks · second-guesses · scrutinizes · questions
take, takes, takers, face, facial, facially, value, values, valued