# with a grain of salt

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/with-a-grain-of-salt
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

With a little common sense and skepticism.

## Examples

- Take everything he says with a grain of salt.
- You should take those online reviews with a grain of salt because they are often biased.
- One must take the sensational claims made by political candidates with a grain of salt, as they frequently prioritize persuasion over objective truth.

## Origin

Calque of Latin cum grānō salis , literally with a grain of salt, figuratively with a bit of common sense (from Pliny’s Pompey’s discovery of an antidote against poison to be taken with a grain of salt).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.