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
Daisann McLaneThe malleability of memory … is the first reason why autobiographies should be taken with a grain of salt.—Judith Rich Harris
Judith Rich HarrisExamples of grain of salt in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The other reason to take this CPI report with a grain of salt is the ongoing trade negotiations.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 11 June 2025
Murray-Boyles' 16.8 points in 30.6 minutes compares well the raw scoring line of Bailey, but that should be taken with a grain of salt, given how easily Bailey can get to his shot, whereas Murray-Boyles has to work far more to get off quality looks.
—Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Winner: NordVPN Server Network Take these numbers with a grain of salt.
—PC Magazine, 19 May 2025
Don't be shocked by some of these videos, but do take them with a grain of salt.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grain of salt
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Zev Fima, CNBC, 11 June 2025
Murray-Boyles' 16.8 points in 30.6 minutes compares well the raw scoring line of Bailey, but that should be taken with a grain of salt, given how easily Bailey can get to his shot, whereas Murray-Boyles has to work far more to get off quality looks.
—Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Winner: NordVPN Server Network Take these numbers with a grain of salt.
—PC Magazine, 19 May 2025
Don't be shocked by some of these videos, but do take them with a grain of salt.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grain of salt
Cite this Entry
“Grain of salt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grain%20of%20salt. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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