On the face of it

Meaning

At first glance; superficially.

Examples

• John: <b>On the face of it</b>, the deal seems attractive.
• Alice: Yes, but have you looked at the fine print?
• John: Not yet. But <b>on the face of it</b>, everything looks good.
• Alice: It's better to be safe than sorry. Let’s explore all aspects before deciding.