on the face of it
idiom
: from only what is known at first
On the face of it, her proposal seems ridiculous—maybe it will sound better when we learn more about it.
Examples of on the face of it in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ridiculous on the face of it, preposterous even — yet somehow also kind of plausible.
—
Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2025
There are still 18 games left, and on the face of it, the Royals have a particularly challenging schedule, with 12 of the 18 against teams above .500.
—Sam McDowell 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Sunderland, on the face of it, have done some very good transfer business.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025
Regeneration, on the face of it, seems like a very useful thing, yet most mammals have lost their ability to regenerate.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
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Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2025
There are still 18 games left, and on the face of it, the Royals have a particularly challenging schedule, with 12 of the 18 against teams above .500.
—Sam McDowell 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Sunderland, on the face of it, have done some very good transfer business.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025
Regeneration, on the face of it, seems like a very useful thing, yet most mammals have lost their ability to regenerate.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the face of it
Cite this Entry
“On the face of it.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20face%20of%20it. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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