Idiom
take it with a grain of salt
Meanings
To be skeptical about information and not accept it as completely true.
Definition
To take it with a grain of salt means to not completely believe something and to treat it as possibly exaggerated or unreliable.
If you take it with a grain of salt, you listen to information but stay skeptical about how true it is. You think it might be biased, exaggerated, or based on incomplete facts. You may still consider it, but you do not accept it as certain.
Examples
- Take it with a grain of salt—he tends to exaggerate his accomplishments.
- I’d take it with a grain of salt until we hear the official announcement.
- She said the train will be on time, but take it with a grain of salt.
- Take it with a grain of salt; that website isn’t very reliable.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say “take it with grains of salt” or “take it with a pinch of salt” in American contexts; the most common US form is “take it with a grain of salt.”
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idioms
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- down to the wire Used to say something is decided or finished only at the last possible moment.
- lost the plot To become confused or behave in a way that no longer makes sense.
- ducks in a row To have everything organized and ready for action.