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

However, there's also a chance that Strowman could win via disqualification, so take this prediction with a grain of salt. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025

Cramer encouraged investors to take some of the president’s big-picture proclamations with a grain of salt, saying such broad ideas aren’t what usually move the market. —Julie Coleman, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025

However, these rankings should be taken with a sizable grain of salt. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2025

However, this should be taken with a grain of salt. —Jj Kinahan, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above