A grain of salt

[Haihao]

Hi Teachers,

How should I understand 'take sth. with a grain of salt'? Is there other usage in English?

Thank you.

[Red5]

It's quite like 'not completely'. The salt indicates something that is added to a dish, and therefore the food no longer has its original taste.

The same can be true of a what someone says. You can believe them to a degree, but you should understand that there may be other things to consider. What someone says is not always the full truth, or they may not have all the facts about a situation, etc. Therefore you take what they say 'with a pinch of salt'.

It indicates caution.

I must add that I am not a teacher, so others may well be able to give you a better (more formal) description.

[MikeNewYork]

It's quite like 'not completely'. The salt indicates something that is added to a dish, and therefore the food no longer has its original taste.

The same can be true of a what someone says. You can believe them to a degree, but you should understand that there may be other things to consider. What someone says is not always the full truth, or they may not have all the facts about a situation, etc. Therefore you take what they say 'with a pinch of salt'.

It indicates caution.

I must add that I am not a teacher, so others may well be able to give you a better (more formal) description.

You did a great job!

[Red5]

Aw shucks!

[MikeNewYork]

Aw shucks!

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