Definition of On the face of it

1. Adverb. From appearances alone. "On the face of it the problem seems minor"

Exact synonyms: Apparently, Ostensibly, Seemingly
Partainyms: Apparent, Ostensible, Seeming

Definition of On the face of it

1. Adverb. (idiomatic) Apparently; as far as can be seen or determined. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of On The Face Of It

on the cards
on the carpet
on the cheap
on the clock
on the coattails
on the come
on the contrary
on the cuff
on the cutting room floor
on the defensive
on the dot
on the double
on the down-low
on the edge of one's seat
on the face of
on the face of it (current term)
on the far side
on the fence
on the fence(p)
on the fly
on the fritz
on the front foot
on the go
on the go(p)
on the ground
on the half hour
on the heels of
on the hoof
on the hook

Literary usage of On the face of it

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Court of King's Bench: With by Great Britain Court of King's Bench, Edward Hyde East, George Mifflin Wharton (1845)
"The question is, Whether the rule to bring in the body, being served in vacation, but appearing on the face of it to be made before the return, ..."

2. A Treatise on the Law of Executors and Administrators by Edward Vaughan Williams, Roland Lomax Vaughan Williams, Joseph Fitz Randolph, William Talcott (1895)
"*appears to be, that where the testator produces the will, with his signature visibly apparent on the face of it, to the wit*nesses, and signed in their ..."

3. A Selection of Leading Cases, on Various Branches of the Law: With Notes by John William Smith, John Innes Clark Hare, Horace Binney Wallace, John William Wallace (1855)
"-i be bound to produce a letter, which, on the face of it, might make ' against him, and which he might not have evidence to explain; and a rule for a new ..."

4. A Practical Treatise of the Law of Evidence, and Digest of Proofs, in Civil by Thomas Starkie (1891)
"... did not appear on the face of it ; and that where a court, having competent juridiction has pronounced an order, as long as it remains in force it must ..."

5. Commentaries on American Law by James Kent, Charles M. Barnes (1884)
"ordinary cases would be bad on the face of it, and ground for a bill of review, if it omitted to give the infant a day to show Cause after he came of age ..."

6. A General Abridgment of Law and Equity: Alphabetically Digested Under Proper by Charles Viner (1805)
"Inequality on the Face of it* t. iT was moved to fet afide an order of ... at only one- half, HS being on the face of it unequal. Sed per cur. ..."

7. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1910)
"Had the draft, signed by Patón, borne no marks of an official character on the face of it, the case would have presented more difficulty. ..."

8. The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review by Isaac Smith Homans, William Buck Dana (1841)
"... and not on the face of it ; unless the contents of the bill are expressed in federal money, in which case the damages are ascertained without reference ..."

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