With reservations or the understanding that some rumor or piece of information may not be completely true or accurate. Possibly a reference to an ancient Roman antidote to poison that included or consisted of a grain of salt. Kevin said that you can get into the club for free if you wear red, but I always take what he says with a grain of salt. Read whatever that paper publishes with a grain of
salt—it's really just a trashy tabloid. Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved. Also, with a pinch of salt. Skeptically, with reservations. For example, I always take Sandy's stories about illnesses with a grain of salt-she tends to exaggerate. This expression is a translation of the Latin cum grano salis, which Pliny used in describing Pompey's
discovery of an antidote for poison (to be taken with a grain of salt). It was soon adopted by English writers. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. With reservations; skeptically: Take that advice with a grain of salt. American
Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Not to be believed entirely; to be viewed with skepticism. This term comes from the Latin cum grano salis, which appeared in Pliny’s account of Pompey’s discovery of an antidote against poison
that was to be taken with a grain of salt added (Naturalis Historia, ca. a.d. 77). The term was quickly adopted by English writers, among them John Trapp, whose Commentary on Revelations (1647) stated, “This is to be taken with a grain of salt.” The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtake something with a pinch/grain of salttake something with a pinch/grain of saltinformalBELIEVE# to not completely believe what someone tells you, because you know that they do not always tell the truth Most of what he says should be taken with a pinch of salt. → saltExamples from the Corpustake something with a pinch/grain of salt• But since he never even notices that Howard is himself Howard takes this with a pinch of salt.• I try to take everything with a grain of salt.• We took her to a psychic reader about a month ago-we take that with a grain of salt. : a skeptical attitude —used in the phrase take (something) with a grain/pinch of salt I take the guidebooks with a grain of salt, preferring to follow my instincts. Daisann McLaneThe malleability of memory … is the first reason why autobiographies should be taken with a grain of salt. Judith Rich Harris Word HistoryFirst Known Use 1647, in the meaning defined above Time Traveler The first known use of grain of salt was in 1647 Dictionary Entries Near grain of saltCite this Entry“Grain of salt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grain%20of%20salt. Accessed 14 Nov. 2022. ShareSubscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Merriam-Webster unabridged |
To take with a grain of salt idiom meaning
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