grain of salt

A metaphor used when information or advice should not be taken so seriously.

Peter: I read somewhere that we're going to war with North Korea!!
Mom: Where did you hear that from?
Peter: Someone commented on my Facebook post
Mom: It was probably sarcasm that you clearly missed on. There is definitely tension between the US and North Korea but not enough to go into War over. Take what they said with a grain of salt.

by PLPK Fire April 27, 2017

with a grain of salt

Meaning to take something lightly, especially with advice. To be skeptical.

Take a novice's advice with a grain of salt.

Anything free should be taken with a grain of salt (there's no such thing as a free lunch)

by philihp September 24, 2004

a grain of salt

Not to be taken literally, or to be taken with caution or extra common sense.

Etymology is from the Latin phrase "cum grano salis" (with a grain of salt), and also the Italian phrase "avere sale in zucca" (to have salt in your pumpkin (head)). In Italy to have salt in your head means to have intelligence or reasoning abilities.

Do not accept promises from your enemy without a grain of salt.

Use a grain of salt when buying cheap electronics from the flea market.

by Bizork May 23, 2010

with a grain of salt

When qualifying advice: For example your mother is always cold and thinks that you will be too. Therefore she always tells you to take a jacket with you. Perhaps she gets cold easily and you do not. If you want to communicate this different subjective preference, use this phrase.

Take your mother's advice to wear a coat "with a grain of salt"

by mthomas1776 October 11, 2007

Take it with a grain of salt

regard something as exaggerated; believe only part of something.

No matter what that dude says, take it with a grain of salt.

by ATOMINE July 15, 2017

take with a grain of salt

To take a statement with 'a grain of salt' or 'a pinch of salt' means to accept it but to maintain a degree of skepticism about its truth.

The idea comes from the fact that food is more easily swallowed if taken with a small amount of salt. (take with a grain of salt)

by _INT_ April 4, 2015

taken with a grain of salt

to not be entirely trusted, to be skeptical of something

idiomatic expression Americans use

taken with a grain of salt-

to consider something to be not completely true or right

I've read the article, which I take with a grain of salt.

Related vocabulary: hard to swallow

by rach131 March 13, 2015