took at face value
Trusted without questioning
To take something at face value is to accept it as presented, without questioning hidden meanings or ulterior motives.
The phrase comes from currency—a coin's face value is what's stamped on it, regardless of its metal content or collector's worth.
I took his apology at face value and moved on.
Often implies a choice not to dig deeper, sometimes naively: She took his excuse at face value, but I wasn't so sure.
- literalismExact meaning only
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- no questions askedWithout requiring explanation
- gullibilityEase of being deceived
- blind trustComplete unquestioning confidence
faith · skin deep · mask · naivety · credence · doubt · reliance · perception · inquiry · read between lines · acceptance · credulity · inference · second guess · superficial · first impression · simplification · sign
took at face valuequestioned
Asked for information
doubted · scrutinized · challenged · interrogated · second-guessed
took at face valuedistrusted
Lacked faith in
suspected · mistrusted · dismissed · disbelieved · rejected
face, faces, faced, facial, deface, surface, value, values, valued