with a grain of salt

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

As ever, the “record usage of this platform” boasts should be taken with a grain of salt, but X was undoubtedly a well-trafficked feed of information, both reliable and seriously unreliable, this election cycle.

From Slate

Any platform, of course, has to be taken with a grain of salt.

From Slate

"Having people who take ideas with a grain of salt and cast a critical eye is important because if we don’t come at these questions in different ways, then it is going to be harder to progress."

From BBC

The campaign claimed a $53 million fundraising haul in the aftermath of the verdict, though this should be taken with a grain of salt, as they lie constantly.

From Salon

That it seems to is reason to take the findings with a grain of salt.

From Slate