cum grano salis

English

Etymology

New Latin coinage, derived from the phrase cum grānō salis (which was not used in Classical Latin).

Adverb

cum grano salis (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) With a grain of salt; with a bit of common sense and skepticism.
   • 1817, “Observations on Ill Health, Arising from Indigestion”, in The Gentleman's magazine, Volume 87, Part 1, p420:

     This observation, taken cum grano salis, applies more or less to all who are daily exposed to the temptations of a superfluous table.

   • 1861 "Imputation," The Danville quarterly review, Volume 3 (September, 1861), Richard H. Collins, p403

     The claim of Dr. Hodge that our standards sustain the view which he advocates, must be taken cum grano salis.

   • 1998, Joseph Needham, Christoph Harbsmeier, Science and civilisation in China, Cambridge University Press, page 142:

     Perhaps the ascription of grammatical structure to Classical Chinese sentences must even more often be taken cum grano salis, with a pinch of salt.