1. on the face of it - Adverb
2. on the face of it - Phrase
from appearances alone
Source: WordNetTo the cheater, there is no such thing as honesty, and to Republicans the idea of serving the public good is counterfeit on the face of it - they never felt such an urge, and therefore it must not exist. Garrison Keillor
The notion of American exceptionalism is effective in part because there is little on the face of it that is offensive. Russ Feingold
irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land Source: Internet
the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is concerned Source: Internet
had been ostensibly frank as to his purpose while really concealing it Source: Internet
on the face of it the problem seems minor Source: Internet