on the face of it

Idioms  

1. Seemingly, based on available evidence, as in On the face of it this project should break even in six months. This idiom uses face in the sense of “a superficial view.” [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

Both fall under the category of "mundane job simulations", an ever-growing gaming genre in which people carry out routine and - on the face of it - not very exciting tasks.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Oracle has a $523 billion revenue backlog which is impressive on the face of it.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

People may appear happy for you on the face of it, but they may not be so generous when your sons are out of earshot, especially if friends, family or acquaintances need money.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 24, 2025

Achieving an industrial margin of over 10% is impressive on the face of it, but the figure is flattered by higher R&D capitalization and a property sale in buses, Bernstein says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

That is why, on the face of it, it is rather odd that he ended up being the great scholar of rhetoric—and, for that matter, the great scholar of poetics too.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

• apparently
• doubtless
• probably
• seemingly
• supposedly
• surely