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

With that being said, take this all with a grain of salt because Alan is known to add some unexpected twists throughout the season! —Ana Osorno, Them, 10 Jan. 2025

However, take these principles with a grain of salt. —Ioana Dragomir, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

For those reasons, Westerman's comments should be taken with a grain of salt in the early days of this reconciliation push. —Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025

Rihanna has been hinting that a new LP has been in the works for years, but fans have had to get used to taking her updates with a grain of salt. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above