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.

a grain of salt by Bizork May 23, 2010

a grain of salt

Definition: To not completely believe what someone tells you, because you know that they do not always tell the truth.

You must take Mr.Wong's statements with a grain of salt, he often exaggerates.

Take what you see on the news with a grain of salt.

a grain of salt by 请关注公众号：英文口语专家 June 7, 2019

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.

Take it with a grain of salt by ATOMINE July 16, 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)

take with a grain of salt by _INT_ April 4, 2015

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)

with a grain of salt by philihp September 24, 2004

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

taken with a grain of salt by rach131 March 12, 2015

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"

with a grain of salt by mthomas1776 October 27, 2007