Idiom
Take it with a grain of salt
To take something with a grain of salt means to doubt it a little, because it may not be completely true.
How people use it
People say this about rumors, ads, reviews, predictions and claims from anyone who might exaggerate. The usual pattern is "take something with a grain of salt." It does not mean rejecting the information completely, only being careful about believing all of it. In American English "grain of salt" is standard, while British speakers usually say "take it with a pinch of salt." The phrase is neutral and fine in both conversation and writing.
Also said: take it with a pinch of salt, with a grain of salt.
Examples
- Take that weather app with a grain of salt, because it predicted sun yesterday and it poured.
- Maya takes her brother's restaurant tips with a grain of salt.
- I'd take those miracle diet ads with a pinch of salt.
Where it comes from
The phrase is often traced to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, who described a remedy against poison that was to be taken with a grain of salt added. Whether that recipe is the true source is uncertain. Later scholars used the Latin phrase "cum grano salis," and the English phrase appears in the 1600s. The idea seems to be that a little salt makes something easier to swallow.
Check yourself
1. If you take a rumor with a grain of salt, what do you do?
Answer: Doubt it a little. The idiom means being somewhat skeptical, not fully believing.
2. Which version do British speakers usually use?
Answer: Take it with a pinch of salt. British English prefers pinch, while American English prefers grain.
Similar idioms
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