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a good value
1. Literally, that which has a high quality, quantity, or worth but is offered at a low or reasonable price; a bargain. $1.50 for a sirloin steak? What a good value!
2. An affable, charismatic, and/or entertaining person. Primarily heard in Australia. John's a good value, he's so much fun to have at parties.
be taken at face value
To be accepted only based on the way someone or something appears or seems, without being verified or investigated first. It's important that the current period of economic growth is not taken at face value by the government, as there is still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. The best salespeople are the ones who are taken at face value by their customers.
face value
The apparent or base value of something, assessed without further examination or consideration. Don't try to pick apart this movie for deeper meaning, just take it at face value. I made a mistake when I took my manipulative aunt's word at face value.
at face value
1. Based on the way someone or something appears or seems, without being verified or investigated first. It's important that the current period of economic growth is not taken at face value by the government, as there is still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. You can't judge someone like Nicole at face value—she's actually much friendlier than she seems at first.
2. In exchange for the official price printed on a ticket (as opposed to a resale price determined by the seller). I'll even sell you the tickets at face value. Come on, that's a good deal! If we want to see The Rolling Stones, we need to get tickets at face value before they sell out—they'll be way too expensive once people start reselling them.
at face value
from outward appearance; from what something first appears to be. (From the value printed on the "face" of a coin or bank note.) Don't just accept her offer at face value. Think of the implications. Joan tends to take people at face value and so she is always getting hurt.
take someone or something at face value
to accept someone or something just as it appears; to believe that the way things appear is the way they really are. He means what he says. You have to take him at face value. I take everything he says at face value.
take something at face value
to accept something exactly the way it appears to be. I don't know whether I can take her story at face value, but I will assume that she is not lying. The committee took the report at face value and approved the suggested changes.
value someone or something above someone or something
to hold someone or something to be more important than someone or something. I value her above all things. He values his car above his family!
value someone or something as something
to hold someone or something in esteem as something; to find someone or something to be as good as something. I value you as a close friend. I value this watch as a keepsake.
value someone or something for something
to hold someone or something in esteem for a particular quality. I value him for his skill in negotiation. I value this car for its speed and dependability.
value something at something
to consider something to be worth a certain amount. The museum curator valued the vase at one million dollars. I value this vase at one million dollars.
take something at face value
to accept that something is exactly what it appears to be This is good research that can be taken at face value by readers. You have to understand that you cannot take gossip at its face value.
Etymology: based on the idea that the value (worth) of a piece of money is exactly the amount shown by a number on its face (front)
take something at face value
to accept something because of the way it first looks or seems, without thinking about what else it could mean
Usage notes: The face value of a note or a coin is the number written on it.
(often negative)
These results should not be taken at face value - careful analysis is required to assess their full implications. at face value, take
Accept from its outward appearance, as in You can't always take a manufacturer's advertisements at face value; they're bound to exaggerate . Literally this idiom has referred to the monetary value printed on a bank note, stock certificate, bond, or other financial instrument since the 1870s. The figurative usage is from the late 1800s.