ON THE FACE OF IT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does on the face of it mean? 

• ON THE FACE OF IT (adverb)
  The adverb ON THE FACE OF IT has 1 sense:

1. from appearances alone

  Familiarity information: ON THE FACE OF IT used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ON THE FACE OF IT (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

From appearances alone

Synonyms:

apparently; on the face of it; ostensibly; seemingly

Context example:

on the face of it the problem seems minor

 Context examples 

It has nothing to do with the main fact—can’t have, on the face of it.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Well, Watson, it is on the face of it a not impossible supposition.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And it was thought, and is, on the face of it, reasonable, that a struggle between two indomitable men, with thirty thousand to view it and three million to discuss it, did help to set a standard of hardihood and endurance.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the face of it the case is not a very complex one, though it certainly presents some novel and interesting features.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the face of it, it would appear to be a case of a very exceptional nature. Have you been there yourself, Mr. Roundhay?

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There is, on the face of it, something unnatural about this strange and sudden friendship between the young Spaniard and Scott Eccles. It was the former who forced the pace.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the face of it you must admit, however, that it is very strange that his two servants should have been in a conspiracy against him and should have attacked him on the one night when he had a guest.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)