grain of salt

noun phrase

variants or less commonly pinch of salt

: a skeptical attitude

—used in the phrase take (something) with a grain/pinch of salt

I take the guidebooks with a grain of salt, preferring to follow my instincts.—

Daisann McLane

The malleability of memory … is the first reason why autobiographies should be taken with a grain of salt.—

Judith Rich Harris

Examples of grain of salt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In deciding on the right strategy, Congress and the public need to take the claims of both wings of the arms industry - the Big Five and the techno-optimists of Silicon Valley – with a grain of salt. —

William Hartung, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 However, investors should take any positive update from Tuesday’s report with a grain of salt. —

Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 Dec. 2024 Many Americans are taking expert opinion with an extra grain of salt and relying on their own council. —

Evan Clark, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024 Just take the Hot Seat lists with a big steaming grain of salt. —

David Whitley, The Tennessean, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grain of salt

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of grain of salt was in 1647

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Grain of salt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grain%20of%20salt. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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