accept (something) as (something else)

1. To take or recognize something as performing a certain function, such as being a form of payment. I accept your offer to fix my car as reimbursement for the money you owe me. Please accept these flowers as my apology. I hope you can accept this vase as a replacement for the one I broke.

2. To acknowledge something as existing in a certain state, such as being true. If he ever wants this situation resolved, he needs to accept Mary's story as the truth. You need to accept this as reality, and move on. You didn't get into Harvard. The sooner you accept that as a fact and start deciding between the schools you did get into, the better.

accept (something) as gospel

To believe that something is absolutely true without any hesitation or reservations. When we're growing up, we accept what our parents tell us as gospel. The beloved professor's opinions on the subject are accepted as gospel by his students. A: "Those negative comments I got on my performance review have ruined my whole day." B: "I know she's your boss, but you can't accept everything she says as gospel. I mean, I've never known you to be anything but a stellar employee."

accept a wooden nickel

To accept something that proves to be fraudulent or deceitful; to be swindled or conned. Primarily heard in US. I'm done accepting wooden nickels—capricious women who say they love me, then get bored and decide I'm not worth their time. My husband is a wonderful man, but he has about as much business sense as a grade-schooler. If I had let him accept all the wooden nickels offered flaky customers have tried to peddle on us, we'd have gone bankrupt years ago. You're really accepting a wooden nickel if you think that accreditation scheme is legit. It does nothing to get you more work in the field.

don't take any wooden nickels

Take care and, specifically, try not to get swindled. The phrase is thought to have originated in the early 20th century when country residents visiting the city were considered easily duped. Primarily heard in US. Have fun tonight and don't take any wooden nickels! Don't take any wooden nickels, sonny—you're in the big city now, and there are con men everywhere! If any offer sounds suspicious, it probably is. Don't take any wooden nickels.

See also: any, nickel, take, wooden

I can accept that

I believe or agree with what you are saying. A: "But I'd like for you to get some more training in Excel." B: "I can accept that—I'm really only familiar with the basic functions." They want us to work on the mailing all day? I can accept that—I know it's gotta go out by tomorrow morning. A: "I think your son's been getting in trouble because he's bored here. I'd like to move him ahead a grade." B: "Interesting. I can accept that."

I can't accept that

I don't believe or agree with what you are saying. They said Amanda was more qualified for the promotion than I am, but I can't accept that, knowing that I've had more training than her. I'm proficient in Excel, yet the boss says I need more training. I can't accept that—they're clearly just trying to sideline me from other job openings in the department. Professor Smith, I followed every instruction on the rubric, and I still got a C. I can't accept that!

accept someone as something

to consent to receive or consider someone as a particular type of person or a person who can serve a particular role. Sally finally accepted herself as the only possible peacemaker in the dispute.

accept something as something

1. to agree that something will serve in payment of a debt or in return for something. This receipt shows that we have accepted your money as payment on your debt. This money has been accepted as reimbursement for the expenditure.

2. to resign [oneself] to something that cannot be changed. I must accept what you say as the final decision.

I can accept that.

Inf. I accept your evaluation as valid. Bob: Now, you'll probably like doing the other job much better. It doesn't call for you to do the things you don't do well. Tom: I can accept that. Sue: On your evaluation this time, I noted that you need to work on telephone manners a little bit. Bill: I can accept that.

I can't accept that.

Inf. I do not believe what you said.; I reject what you said. Sue: The mechanic says we need a whole new engine. John: What? I can't accept that! Tom: You're now going to work on the night shift. You don't seem to be able to get along with some of the people on the day shift. Bob: I can't accept that. It's them, not me.

receive something from some place

to get and accept something from some place. I just received a letter from Budapest! Mary received a package from Japan.

accept a wooden nickel

be fooled or swindled. US

A wooden nickel is a worthless or counterfeit coin.

don’t take any wooden ˈnickels

(American English) used when saying goodbye to somebody to mean ‘be careful’, ‘take care of yourself’: Well, see you around Tom. Don’t take any wooden nickels.

See also: any, nickel, take, wooden

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

don't take any wooden nickels

Protect yourself (against fraud, loss, and so on). This warning against counterfeit coins dates from about 1900 and is distinctly American in origin, the nickel being a U.S. or Canadian five-cent coin. Why a wooden coin was selected is not known. Presumably making coins of wood would always have been more expensive than the intrinsic value of metal coins. Several writers suggest it replaced don’t take any wooden nutmegs, a now obsolete saying dating from colonial times when sharp traders sold wooden nutmegs mixed in with the real spice. In print the expression is found in Ring Lardner’s story, The Real Dope (1919), “In the mean wile—until we meet again—don’t take no wood nickles [sic] and don’t get impatient and be a good girlie.”

See also: any, nickel, take, wooden

Don't take any wooden nickels

Don't let yourself be cheated. This expression was first heard in the early 20th century. Although there never were any wooden nickels as legal tender, country folk going to a city were likely to be cheated by all manner of ruses, including obviously counterfeit coins. Wooden nickels did exist, however, as bank promotions during and after the Great Depression; the “coins” were redeemable for prizes.

See also: any, nickel, take, wooden

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References in periodicals archive

Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa on Monday said he accepted gifts such as expensive Lacoste shirts during Christmas and lechon when he was chief of the PNP.

Albayalde admits accepting food as gifts during special occasions

Twenty-six of another group of 30 residents have accepted financial compensation, a home at a relocation site on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, or both.

More set to leave Borei Keila

Imagining what you would be thinking, saying and doing if you fully accepted the situation and then think, say and do those things.

MIND OVER MATTER; Acceptance is the vital first step to move forward in life

You may accept that you are submissive to unacceptable behaviours but you should not call yourself an accepting person.

Accept but don't submit

Despite the contradiction in this title -- between wishing the partition resolution had been accepted, which means not going to the 1948 War and the subsequent wars to liberate the land, on one hand, and the formation of the Palestinian Authority and government, which means the continuation of the liberation war, on the other -- the headline actually expresses the wisdom adopted by some in retrospect, after the event has become history.

With a Grain of Salt: If only they accept the occupation

Failing to accept the role as a mediator or finding the appropriate individual to act is no better than not intervening in the first place.

The key to collaboration is to accept and manage conflict

Not accept payment of travel and hotel expenses in the course of performing editorial duties from any source other than their employers.

Ag editors and publishers adopt new code of editorial ethics

Numerous "vehicle donation programs" will gladly accept most towable vehicles.

How to recycle practically anything

But when she queried fellow students if that sorority would accept an openly lesbian member, the consensus was "never."

Alpha Chi Upsilon

In a survey of 300 of the nation's largest private-sector employers, almost four in five (79%) said they would accept government subsidies to continue to provide retiree drug coverage, comparable with Medicare, when the new drug benefit started this month, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Hewitt Associates.

Retiree drug coverage continues

The IRS has vowed to accept two of the most common reject code errors, ERC 504, Dependent SSN Mismatch, and ERC 501, Earned Income Credit ID Information Mismatch.

The IRS speaks: bankruptcy, OICs, e-filing highlight Liaison meeting

A study of 3,131 patients referred for genetic testing found that individuals were more likely to accept cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier testing and were more likely to accept both CF and fragile X syndrome (FXS) carrier testing if they underwent an invasive procedure such as amniocentesis.

Who undergoes carrier status testing?

And we say, "I can't let it go, I can't accept this!" We continue to feel bad--angry, frustrated, hurt--because we are stuck in our limited perspective.

From stuck to liberated: accepting and letting goooo

The company is participating in a project spearheaded by the Mexican Banking Association that will increase the number of retail outlets that accept credit cards with the hopes that Blue catches on as it did in the United States.

Internet ready: American Express wants credit card growth among middle-class Mexicans