English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Take with a grain of salt
Meaning
The idiom "take with a grain of salt" means to accept information or advice with skepticism, as it is not necessarily true or reliable. It suggests that the listener or reader should be cautious and not take the information at face value without verifying it first.
Usage
- The politician's promise to reform the healthcare system was met with skepticism by many voters, who took her words with a grain of salt.
- After hearing that their friend had won the lottery, they took the news with a grain of salt until they saw the winning ticket.
- The employee was hesitant to accept the company's new policy, taking it with a grain of salt until she spoke with her colleagues who had already been affected by it.
- The doctor prescribed a medication that claimed to cure a rare disease, but the patient took it with a grain of salt and decided to do further research before making a decision.
- The tourist was wary of the local cuisine and only ate dishes that were recommended by locals, taking them with a grain of salt until she tried them out herself.
Roots and History
The earliest known use of the phrase "take it with a grain of salt" dates back to the 16th century. It was first used in a collection of proverbs by John Heywood in his book "A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue". The idiom is believed to have originated from the ancient practice of adding salt to food before tasting it, which was a way of testing its quality and purity. Similarly, adding a grain of salt to information or advice can be seen as a way of testing its veracity and reliability. Over time, the usage of the idiom has remained relatively stable, with its meaning and figurative interpretation remaining consistent in contemporary language.
Synonyms in English
- Doubt it
- Don't believe it
- It's unlikely
- I'll have to see it to believe it
- Watch out for that one
Synonyms in other languages
- ¡Qué onda?! (Spanish) - This idiom is used to express surprise or skepticism, and translates to "What's up?" in English.
- אַשֵּּן (Hebrew) - This idiom means "it's all true" or "it's all good", and is commonly used in everyday conversations to convey agreement and satisfaction.
- そうでしょうか？ (Japanese) - This idiom, which translates to "Is that so?" or "Really?", is used to express doubt and skepticism towards someone's statement or advice.
- عذرة بشكل (Arabic) - This idiom means "in a thousand years" and is used to express strong disbelief, skepticism, or exaggeration.
- بيركنكه (Turkish) - This idiom means "I'll see if I can find it" or "I don't know where it is", and is commonly used in conversations with friends and family to express uncertainty or confusion about a situation.