took 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. pastsimple past of take the shadow for the substance
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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