English Explanatory Dictionary

with a grain of salt

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. With a little common sense and skepticism.

Pronunciation

En-au-with a grain of salt.ogg

Word forms

with a grain of salt

Etymology

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).

Related words

with all the salt in the Dead Sea
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