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What does "Don't take my words at face value" mean?

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    (I removed "the" from your text because it's not normally included in this idiomatic usage.)
    – FumbleFingers
    Mar 16, 2013 at 18:08
  • The meaning of this idiom can easily be found on google. You would have had a quicker answer if you'd looked on there anyway.
    – user76935
    Jun 12, 2014 at 6:47

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It's a metaphor. The metaphor has long since passed into regular speech, so most people aren't conscious of making it, but it's there nonetheless.

The face value of a bank note (or coin, postage stamp, etc.) is the value printed on the item. A five-dollar bill claims to be worth five dollars, so that's its face value. In other words, the face value of something is its apparent worth; its real value may not be the same as its face value.

Applying this term to words, if you take someone's words at face value, you're not questioning their apparent worth. You're assuming that the words are worth what they appear to be. As a result, you don't question them or examine them closely to find any flaws, inaccuracies, or untruthful statements.

If you don't take their words at face value, the opposite is true. You haven't assumed their words are correct or truthful. You might question them or examine them closely to find flaws, inaccuracies, or untruthful statements.

Sometimes this phrase is used to imply someone might be wrong; in other cases, this phrase is used to imply deceit or trickery. Which implication is appropriate probably depends on context.

Let's look at your context:

Don't take my words at face value.

If I tell you not to take my words at face value, I'm probably telling you I might be wrong, not that I might be tricking you. Why? Because if I were trying to trick you, I probably wouldn't give you any warning!

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    A preacher in church or a teacher in school might say this to prompt the hearer to verify for themselves that what they are being taught is correct, makeing the message more memorable.
    – TecBrat
    Jun 13, 2013 at 10:46
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"Don't take my words at face value" may mean "Don't blindly accept everything I say as fact." Someone might say this if they are unsure that what they are saying is completely true; they may just be guessing.

The phrase may also be used to encourage someone to conduct their own research to verify the validity of the information rather than just accepting it as fact, even if the person who says it knows that they are right.

Additionally, it may mean to look for insights that are not stated explicitly.

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It's a tricky little idiom, isn't it? What it means is that what something might appear to mean - it's "face value" - is not exactly what it may actually mean.

For instance, if someone says, "You look tired, are you sick?" The "face value" is not assuming a hidden meaning, and so the statement would be assumed to mean "the person thinks I look ill and they are genuinely concerned". But sometimes people are being passive-agressive, and what might appear to be concern is intended as an insult or an attempt to make you feel insecure. To not take someone's words at face value is to look deeper for hidden meanings or veiled intent.

This is closely related to "reading between the lines", which means to look for a hidden meaning.

Edit: Note that this phrase is often intended to mean something slightly different, because not everyone interprets it the same way!

Example: WiseGeek: What does it mean to take something at face value

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It means that the words the person is using don't match what would be the obvious meaning implied. The person is probably exaggerating, or is being sarcastic.

For example, if you did something that was clearly inappropriate (such as accidentally insulting someone), and I told you, "Nice one," my intended meaning is actually the exact opposite of the obvious meaning. I would not be giving approval for what you just did, but rather would be giving disapproval.

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A simple explanation to this idiom is that something can be said or unsaid, basically, if I explained something, i would have to explain it in a way that the others understood, so there might be flaws in the way I told them, so it could mean that I have confused them, but not intentionally.

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  • Your answer is very unclear. And, if I understand it correctly, it is incorrect. The idiom has nothing to do with explaining to a third party. Could you try to clarify your answer.
    – Chenmunka
    Oct 12, 2016 at 13:49
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Bu saying that you are not taking someone’s word at face value, it can be done in efforts to protect oneself. If you do not truly know this person and they have not proven to be trustworthy, then you may not take their word at face value because there is that chance that they have not spoken the truth in their story. With that being said one might expect proof in what this individual is saying to back his word, in efforts to gain your trust.

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    Hello Kevin, You might note that this question is about 4 years old and has 7 answers already. Perhaps you could have a look at some of our newer or unanswered questions.
    – James K
    Jan 21, 2020 at 7:31
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When I say I don't take people's word at face value, I am moreless Saying I am not going to just take your word, I will check it out for myself.. I don't just believe you for what you are saying ,

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