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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The poll should be taken with a grain of salt, as Harris was not expected to be competitive in the Hawkeye State. Justin Green, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024 Congratulations may contain a hint of envy, so take them with a grain of salt. Essence, 1 Nov. 2024 As always, however, results must be taken with a grain of salt. Nick Leighton, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 To state the obvious: Survey responses are not votes, and all polls should be taken with a grain of salt, aka a margin of error. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 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

Dictionary Entries Near 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 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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