taking the shadow for the substance

A form of take the shadow for the substance — To be easily deceived, credulous, superficial.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of take the shadow for the substance
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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