2012년 12월 15일 토요일

Dic: take someone at their word


■ to assume that someone means, or will do, what he or she says.

  • when he told her to go, she took him at his word and left.
■ To be convinced of another's sincerity and act in accord with his or her statement.
  • We had to take them at their word that the job would be done on time.
■ to do something as a result of what someone has said, even though they may not have meant exactly what they said.

CF.
■ my/his/your etc word: a sincere promise to do something, or a promise that what you say is true.
  • I trust him to keep his word.
  • I give you my word (=I promise) that it won't happen again.
  • We only have his word for it that he has already paid.
  • Delors claimed that Johnson had gone back on his word (=not done what he had promised to do).
  • The business is doing very well. You can take my word for it (=accept that what I say is true).
  • I never know whether to take him at his word (=believe what he says).
  • His word is his bond (=he always does what he promises to do) .
.... Collins, WordNet, Macmillan, LDOCE

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