Take with a Pinch of Salt

Ret's Word of the Day: Take with a Pinch of Salt
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Take with a Pinch of Salt

/teɪk wɪð ə pɪntʃ ɒv sɒlt/ (UK) | /teɪk wɪð ə pɪntʃ əv sɔːlt/ (US)

(Pronounced: take with uh pinch uhv sawlt)
UK pronunciation   US pronunciation

Meaning: To not completely believe something you are told, because you think it may be exaggerated, unreliable, or not entirely true — view it with skepticism or caution.

Dialogue

  • Jack: "Did you hear? Mike says he won $10,000 in the lottery last week!"
  • Lisa: "Really? Mike always tells tall stories."
  • Jack: "Yeah, I'd take that with a pinch of salt until we see some proof."
  • Lisa: "Exactly — he's probably exaggerating again."

Etymology

The idiom "take with a pinch of salt" (British English variant; US often "grain of salt") likely stems from ancient ideas that salt could counteract poison or make unpleasant things more palatable. It references Pliny the Elder's 1st-century account of an antidote recipe including "a grain of salt." The modern skeptical meaning emerged in the 17th century, with "pinch" becoming common in the 20th century.

Audience

When to use: Very common in everyday informal and formal English to express healthy skepticism toward rumors, gossip, exaggerated claims, news, or advice from unreliable sources. It's polite and cautious, widely used in conversations, media, and writing (more "pinch" in UK, "grain" in US).

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