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

Everything Tesla says regarding the wade mode however must be taken with a grain of salt, as such claims by the big boss are not actually covered under Tesla’s warranty. —Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

Typically, these phrases should be taken with a grain of salt. —Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025

Take the specific percentages with a grain of salt. —Murat Ates, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

Take these numbers with a grain of salt, but the Bucks are outscoring opponents by 0.4 points per 100 possessions in 605 minutes with Lillard on the floor. —Zach Harper, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grain of salt

• millivolt
• somersault
• thunderbolt
• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• malt
• sault
• vault
• walt
• asphalt