take someone at their word
Meaning: To believe someone, or to act on exactly what they said.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “He offered to cover my shift, so I took him at his word.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Holding someone to their spoken promise. The phrase is found from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Prendre au mot — literally: To take at the word
More idioms — Daily Life
- money makes the world go round — Money is what drives everything.
- cut the Gordian knot — To solve a complicated problem with a bold, simple action.
- pick a fight — To deliberately start an argument or fight.
- in someone's good books — In favor with someone.
- send someone packing — To dismiss someone abruptly.
- money burns a hole in someone's pocket — Someone cannot keep money without spending it.
More English idioms
- talk the hind legs off a donkey — To talk endlessly.
- an eye for an eye — Punishment should match the injury; revenge in kind.
- scream blue murder — To protest very loudly.
- jump through hoops — To go through many difficult or pointless steps to get something.
- a parting shot — A final sharp remark made while leaving.
- grease someone's palm — To bribe someone.
From our untranslatable words
- Pochemuchka — A person — usually a child — who asks an endless stream of questions, one 'why?' after an…
- Razliubit — To fall out of love — the process of ceasing to love someone you once loved, leaving behi…
- Mamihlapinatapai — The look between two people who both want the same thing but neither is willing to initia…