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
So a grain of salt is in order.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
That being said, such images still need to be taken with a grain of salt.
—David Szondy
october 09, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025
This should be taken with a grain of salt, however, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Chad Merrill.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
People will always have opinions — take them with a grain of salt.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grain of salt
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The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
That being said, such images still need to be taken with a grain of salt.
—David Szondy
october 09, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025
This should be taken with a grain of salt, however, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Chad Merrill.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
People will always have opinions — take them with a grain of salt.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 2025.
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