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
… 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Either way, the audience is expected to take the course of events with a grain of salt, as Weisz's character is a classic unreliable narrator. Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026 Alison Laesser-Keck of Alison Bryan Destinations advises that those using AI for their wedding planning should take everything with a grain of salt. Shelby Wax, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026 Take Bar Betty’s checkered past with a grain of salt, preferably on the rim of a margarita. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026 But experts say many of the claims about the health benefits of these drinks need to be taken with a grain of salt. ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grain of salt

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grain of salt was in 1647

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Cite this Entry

“Grain of salt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grain%20of%20salt. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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