taken someone at their word

A form of take someone at their word — To take someone literally even though they may not have been serious; to take someone seriously even though they were joking; to take up a challenge that was initially meant as a joke.

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Meanings

verb
  1. participlepastpast participle of take someone at their word
Cite this entry
APA

taken someone at their word. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taken%20someone%20at%20their%20word

MLA

“taken someone at their word.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taken%20someone%20at%20their%20word. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “taken someone at their word,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taken%20someone%20at%20their%20word.

Source: taken someone at their word on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.