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.
So any potential benefits should be taken with a grain of salt. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 So take it with a grain of salt. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 These figures are rough estimates made quickly during wartime and should be taken with a grain of salt. Matt Peterson, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026 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 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grain of salt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grain%20of%20salt. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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