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
Take these numbers with a grain of salt, but the Bucks are outscoring opponents by 0.4 points per 100 possessions in 605 minutes with Lillard on the floor.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
At the same time, that joy for USC’s clicking-on-all-cylinders dominance came with a grain of salt as Watkins’ injury remained in the back of minds – and the front of hearts – throughout Monday’s game.
—Aaron Heisen, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
Like the pop psychology accounts, it all should be taken with a grain of salt.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2025
This needs to be taken with a grain of salt, however.
—Michael Foster, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grain of salt
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Zach Harper, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
At the same time, that joy for USC’s clicking-on-all-cylinders dominance came with a grain of salt as Watkins’ injury remained in the back of minds – and the front of hearts – throughout Monday’s game.
—Aaron Heisen, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
Like the pop psychology accounts, it all should be taken with a grain of salt.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2025
This needs to be taken with a grain of salt, however.
—Michael Foster, Forbes, 22 Mar. 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 30 Mar. 2025.
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