What does Taking something at face value mean?

Answers

riabun

29 January

Featured answer

English (US)

Taking something at face value means that you just accept it as someone presents it through speech or something you see yourself.

For example, imagine an older sister blames her baby sister for breaking a plate. You believe her, thus taking it at face value, but if you looked deeper you would've realized that the plate was too high up for the baby sister to grab, which meant only the older sister could've broken it.

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riabun

29 January

English (US)

Taking something at face value means that you just accept it as someone presents it through speech or something you see yourself.

For example, imagine an older sister blames her baby sister for breaking a plate. You believe her, thus taking it at face value, but if you looked deeper you would've realized that the plate was too high up for the baby sister to grab, which meant only the older sister could've broken it.

Olive_Spence

29 January

Spanish (Spain)

@riabun
Your explanation sounds negative. How about the positive part of it?
I mean what if you see something/were told/are told something that may/may not be true?

riabun

29 January

English (US)

@morrisononodje If it's true, we usually won't use the phrase "take at face value." It's a phrase with somewhat negative connotations. If you're told you take everything at face value, you're typically being thought of as naïve and gullible. The phrase usually implied there's something hidden beneath the surface, which is why a "face value" exists at all–because there's something beneath it.

Olive_Spence

29 January

Spanish (Spain)

@riabun
Ah, I see. When there is/might be a negative side to something. Could this be a feeling that one may have? As in examples 1, 2 and 3.
1. A: Given the face value, he's smart but let's see how long that's gonna last, cause I think someone wrote the article for him.
B: we would see.
2. The clothes look really cheap at face value, but who knows if there has been an increment already?
3. The meal looks tasty considering the face value. Let's hope it's not insipid.
4. She told me that the movie was interesting and I took it at a face value not knowing it was gonna be all shades of boredom.
5. He mentioned he was from Nigeria and I took it at face value. But guess what? I did my research and I realized he was from Ghana.

I feel this expression is similar to "on the surface".

Olive_Spence

29 January

Spanish (Spain)

@riabun
And I think taking someone at face value would mean believing what they are telling you/what they told you?

riabun

29 January

English (US)

@morrisononodje Yes, the contexts of 1-3 do make sense. Their wording is a bit confusing, however, so here are some revisions:

1.
A: At face value he's smart, but that might be a lie, because I think someone wrote the article for him.

B: We will see.

2.
The clothes look really cheap at face value, but who knows if they're actually valuable? (I'm unsure what you meant by increment.)

3.
At face value, the meal looks tasty. Let's hope it's not (insipid/disgusting/gross). (Insipid isn't a common word to use in everyday speech; it's much more formal).

The phrase "at face value" isn't very friendly with change to its structure–we do not tend to say "given the face value, "the face value, or "a face value." It is also a phrase that is typically found at the beginning of a sentence, since it indicates a turn in opinion may occur later in that sentence.

The expression is very similar to "on the surface," and could be seen as synonymous.

riabun

29 January

English (US)

@morrisononodje Taking someone at face value basically means how they appear on the surface or at first glance. You don't always have to believe them, but you most likely did initially.

eg. At face value, Dr. Rich seemed like a friendly guy. Once you got to know him, however, he was very condescending.

Olive_Spence

29 January

Spanish (Spain)

@riabun
Yeah, you're right about the expression not being used as "at the face value" and all that. It's actually "taken at the face value...". For it only being to begin a sentence, I would doubt that. See the attachment below

Olive_Spence

29 January

Spanish (Spain)

@riabun
I'm just saying but don't you think having "at face value" and "but that's a lie" in the same sentence is kinda tautological? I mean like you said, there is always likely to be a turn of opinion/a contrasting opinion if I'm allowed to put it that way?