World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesTake with a grain of salt
/teɪk wɪð ə ɡreɪn ɒv sɔːlt/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To view something with skepticism or not interpret it as completely truthful or accurate.
"You should take his wild claims about his business success with a grain of salt." - 2
To accept a piece of information while maintaining reservations about its reliability.
"Statistics reported on social media should always be taken with a grain of salt."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Latin phrase 'cum grano salis', found in Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia around 77 AD, where salt was viewed as an antidote to poison and metaphorically used to imply that a statement should be swallowed with a dose of skepticism or critical caution. The expression entered English usage in the 17th century, shifting from its original medicinal sense to a general idiom denoting doubt about the absolute truth of information.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Take with a grain of salt"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Take with a grain of salt" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
prendre avec des pincettes
Transliteration: pʁɑ̃dʁ avɛ de pɛ̃sɛt
"Il faut prendre ses promesses avec des pincettes."
mit Vorsicht genießen
Transliteration: mɪt ˈfoːɐ̯zɪçt ɡəˈniːsn̩
"Diese Nachrichten sollte man mit Vorsicht genießen."
prendere con le pinze
Transliteration: ˈprɛndere kon le ˈpintse
"Queste informazioni vanno prese con le pinze."
tomar con pinzas
Transliteration: toˈmaɾ kom ˈpinzas
"Hay que tomar sus declaraciones con pinzas."
levar com reservas
Transliteration: leˈvaɾ kõ ʁeˈzɛɾvɐs
"Devemos tomar essa notícia com reservas."
संदेह की दृष्टि से देखना
Transliteration: sandeh ki drishti se dekhna
"आपको उसकी बात को संदेह की दृष्टि से देखना चाहिए।"
持保留态度
Transliteration: chí bǎoliú tàidù
"对这篇报道我们要持保留态度。"
걸러서 듣다
Transliteration: geol-reos-eo deut-da
"그의 말은 어느 정도 걸러서 들어야 한다."
割り引いて聞く
Transliteration: waribiite kiku
"彼の話は割り引いて聞く必要がある。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsHaving a clean, youthful, and healthy-looking face.
Consisting of, composed of, or resembling sand; sandy or gritty.
The act or process of measuring or noting atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, wind, and humidity.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Take with a grain of salt"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
What is a SLOT SWOT Analysis and How Do You Actually Do One?
A SLOT SWOT analysis is an expanded strategic planning framework that blends personal or organizational 'SLOT' (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) metrics with traditional 'SWOT' dynamics. It provides a granular approach to evaluating internal capabilities against external market realities.