put stock in
To pay attention to something; to have or invest faith or belief in something; to accept something. Often used in the negative. Oh, John is very dependable—I would put stock in his promises. Our managers put stock in their employees' abilities, and I think that definitely contributes to our company's success. Don't put stock in their criticism—they're just jealous.
put (or take) stock in
believe or have faith in. The earliest example so far recorded of this expression is by Mark Twain in Galaxy ( 1870 ): ‘The “chance” theory…is… calculated to inflict…pecuniary loss upon any community that takes stock in it’.