Meaning of the word "take the will for the deed" in English

What does "take the will for the deed" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

take the will for the deed

US /teɪk ðə wɪl fɔːr ðə diːd/
UK /teɪk ðə wɪl fɔː ðə diːd/
"take the will for the deed" picture

Idiom

to accept a person's good intentions even though they have not actually done anything or have failed to achieve what they intended

Example:
I know you couldn't finish the repairs, but I'll take the will for the deed.
She tried to help but only made things worse; we had to take the will for the deed.