Take their word for it 🤲🗣️✅

Meaning

To believe or trust what someone says without needing proof.

Origin

This phrase likely emerged from a time when trust and reputation were paramount. Imagine a bustling marketplace in centuries past. A merchant offers a deal, a craftsman promises quality. You don't have a contract or a written guarantee; your only recourse is the person's own assurance. You must literally 'take their word' as your bond. It's a simple, human transaction—a handshake deal sealed with spoken trust. The phrase captures that fundamental reliance on another's integrity, a practice that predates complex legal systems and endures even today.

🗣️ communication ⚖️✅ honesty 🔒 secrets

Take their word for it represented with emoji🤲🗣️✅

This delightful arrangement of 🤲🗣️✅ serves as a whimsical reminder to trust the spoken word. It playfully underscores the simple act of taking someone at their word, inviting us to consider the inherent trust we place in everyday interactions. Note how the open hands and the speaking head, met with a checkmark, suggest an immediate and unquestioned acceptance – a delightful little affirmation of belief!

Examples

  • He's usually very reliable, so you can take his word for it.
  • She said the bus would be here soon; I'll take her word for it and keep waiting.
  • The old wizard promised he'd seen a unicorn, and the villagers, charmed by his twinkling eyes, chose to take his word for it.
  • My cat informed me, with a very serious meow, that the red dot had escaped to another dimension, and I simply had to take her word for it.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'take their word for it' a proverb or an idiom?

The phrase 'take their word for it' is considered an idiom. Idioms are phrases where the meaning isn't directly deducible from the individual words, and this phrase relies on the figurative understanding of accepting someone's statement as truth without verification.

What's the opposite of 'take their word for it'?

The opposite of 'take their word for it' is to 'demand proof' or 'verify the facts'. This involves seeking evidence or corroboration rather than simply believing what is said.

Can you 'take their word for it' in a legal context?

Generally, no, you cannot rely solely on 'taking their word for it' in a legal context, as legal systems require concrete evidence and documentation. While trust is a social concept, legal matters demand verifiable facts and agreements.

Did Shakespeare use the phrase 'take their word for it'?

While Shakespeare's works are rich with early English idioms, the specific phrase 'take their word for it' doesn't appear in his known plays or sonnets. Its usage likely became more common in later periods focusing on everyday trust.

Similar to "take their word for it"

Give them the benefit of the doubt
Both suggest accepting someone's account without proof, but this one leans into an assumption of good intentions, whereas 'take their word for it' is more about the act of belief itself
Trust on faith
This phrase shares the core idea of believing without evidence, but it carries a more overtly spiritual or deeply personal conviction, a notch above the everyday acceptance of 'take their word for it'
Take someone at their face value
Both mean to believe what someone says, but this one emphasizes a direct, uncritical acceptance of their presented persona or statement, without necessarily implying deep trust like 'take their word for it' might

Opposite of "take their word for it"

Dot your i's and cross your t's
This argues for meticulous verification and confirmation, standing in stark contrast to the uncritical acceptance of 'take their word for it' by insisting on absolute certainty
Get it in writing
This demands concrete, materialized proof, directly challenging the reliance on mere spoken assurance that 'take their word for it' represents by prioritizing the tangible over the verbal
He said, she said
This points to the inherent unreliability of uncorroborated testimony, highlighting the very situation where one might need to 'take their word for it' but arguing for skepticism instead of blind belief

Related to "take their word for it"

On good authority
This phrase often precedes relaying information someone else provided, setting the stage for the listener to potentially 'take their word for it' because the source is deemed trustworthy
Straight from the horse's mouth
This implies a source of information is direct and primary, making it a strong candidate for why someone might feel comfortable to 'take their word for it'
Believe an eye-witness
This scenario usually involves direct observation, which lends credibility to the spoken account, making it easier to 'take their word for it' than a secondhand story
Hearsay
This is the kind of information that often *challenges* the notion of taking someone's word for it, as it's secondhand and less reliable, precisely why proof might be sought