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

Sentiment is expected to deteriorate further, but this should be taken with a grain of salt. —Bill Stone, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

Unlike other opioids, which require higher doses to be legal, just two milligrams of fentanyl—an amount smaller than a grain of salt—can be deadly. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025

Some investors seem to be expecting a manufacturing rebound in the United States, but next week’s release of the February U.S. PMI Manufacturing index should be taken taken with a grain of salt, cautioned Thomas Carroll, an analyst in institutional equity strategy at Stifel, in a note to clients. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025

Yes, but: Many Republicans maintained town halls and protests should be taken with a grain of salt, if not altogether discounted, because of liberal groups directing their members to show up in force. —Andrew Solender, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grain of salt

• millivolt
• somersault
• thunderbolt
• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• malt
• sault
• vault
• walt
• asphalt