take the shadow for the substance

verb

To be easily deceived, credulous, superficial.

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Meanings

verbtake the shadow for the substance (third-person singular simple present takes the shadow for the substance, present participle taking the shadow for the substance, simple past took the shadow for the substance, past participle taken the shadow for the substance)

present singular third person takes the shadow for the substance · participle present taking the shadow for the substance · past took the shadow for the substance · participle past taken the shadow for the substance

  1. idiomaticTo be easily deceived, credulous, superficial.

Origin

Traditional, particularly in sermons; attested since 1818.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

take the shadow for the substance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20shadow%20for%20the%20substance

MLA

“take the shadow for the substance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20shadow%20for%20the%20substance. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take the shadow for the substance,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20shadow%20for%20the%20substance.

Source: take the shadow for the substance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.