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. This is just a fun, light-hearted movie, meant be to taken at face value. Don't look for deeper meaning.