grain of salt

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Latin cum grano salis, literally with a grain of salt, figuratively with a bit of common sense.

Noun

grain of salt (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) A bit of common sense and skepticism. Generally used in some form of to take with a grain of salt.

   I'd take anything I read in that paper with a grain of salt.

Synonyms

• pinch of salt

Translations

with common sense and skepticism

• Catalan: reserves (ca) f pl, cautela (ca) f, escepticisme (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: (to take with a grain of salt; not to be believed literally) 不可全信 (cmn) (bùkěquánxìn)

• Czech: rezerva (cs) f
• Dutch: korreltje zout (iets met een korreltje zout nemen)
• Finnish: varauksin (fi), varauksellisesti (fi), varauksella (fi), varovasti (fi)

• Georgian: please add this translation if you can
• German: mit einem Körnchen Salz
• Portuguese: Com um grão de sal (literal), com reservas, não confiar muito.
• Russian: (adverb) скептически (ru) (skeptíčeski) , (adverb) недоверчиво (ru) (nedovérčivo) 
• Spanish: reservas (es) f pl, dudas (es) f pl
• Swedish: en nypa salt (sv)

See also

• face value