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

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 27, 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 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)

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 12, 2015