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3. with a grain of salt

with a grain of salt

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with a grain of salt

Also, with a pinch of salt. Skeptically, with reservations. For example, I always take Sandy's stories about illnesses with a grain of salt-she tends to exaggerate. This expression is a translation of the Latin cum grano salis, which Pliny used in describing Pompey's discovery of an antidote for poison (to be taken with a grain of salt). It was soon adopted by English writers.

See also: grain, of, salt

with a grain of salt

With reservations; skeptically: Take that advice with a grain of salt.

See also: grain, of, salt