with a grain of salt
Related to with a grain of salt: the tip of the iceberg
with a grain of salt
With reservations or the understanding that some rumor or piece of information may not be completely true or accurate. Possibly a reference to an ancient Roman antidote to poison that included or consisted of a grain of salt. I heard that you can get a free movie ticket if you wear red, but Kevin told me that, so I'm going to take it with a grain of salt. Read whatever that paper publishes with a grain of salt—it's really just a trashy tabloid.
See also: grain, of, salt
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
with a grain of salt
With reservations; skeptically: Take that advice with a grain of salt.
See also: grain, of, salt
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- a grain of salt
- on the grapevine
- on/through the grapevine
- through the grapevine
- draw a veil over
- draw a veil over (something)
- draw a veil over something
- cast a veil over (something)
- cast/draw/throw a veil over something
- rumor monger