# face value

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/face-value
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

No more or less than what is stated; a literal or direct meaning or interpretation.

## Examples

- Do not take his angry words at face value.
- I usually take what my boss says at face value.
- He takes every compliment at face value and never feels shy.
- She took the invitation at face value and arrived exactly when the email said.
- You should not accept every online review at face value because some companies pay people to write positive comments.
- The detective refused to take the witness's story at face value and searched for more physical evidence.
- If a stranger offers you a deal that seems too good to be true, you probably shouldn't accept the offer at face value without doing some research.
- While the politician's promise sounded generous, experienced voters refused to take it at face value, suspecting hidden motives behind the proposal.

## Origin

The term derives from the material distinction between the nominal value stamped upon a currency's face and its actual market value. The etymology rests upon this contrast, where the physical surface of a coin or note asserts a worth that the broader economy may or may not choose to acknowledge.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.