Take With A Pinch of Salt Meaning, Synonyms, Examples

The idiom “take with a pinch of salt” means to not completely believe something that you are told, because you think it is unlikely to be true or accurate. A real-life instance of this phrase would be social media posts, which are not taken that seriously every time. In other words, it is usually used when someone tells you something based on their opinion, exaggeration, or rumor, rather than facts or evidence.

Usage With Examples

The origin of this idiom is not clear, but some people think it comes from the ancient Roman writer Pliny the Elder, who wrote that a grain of salt was an antidote to poison. So, taking something with a pinch of salt could mean protecting yourself from being harmed by false or misleading information. Here are some ways to use this idiom in a sentence correctly:

1. You should take his advice with a pinch of salt, he is not very experienced in this field.
2. I always take the reviews on this website with a pinch of salt, they are often biased or fake.
3. She told me that she saw a ghost, but I took it with a pinch of salt, she has a vivid imagination.

Also Read: 500+ Most Commonly Used Idioms in English

Synonyms and Similar Phrases

This metaphor shares its meaning with many other words and phrases in English. Some of those words and phrases are as follows:

1. Take with a grain of salt
2. Be sceptical of
3. Doubt
4. Question
5. Discredit
6. Discount
7. Have no confidence/faith in
8. Not trust
9. Not buy
10. Repudiate
11. Be wary of
12. Be doubtful of
13. Be suspicious of
14. With reservations
15. With misgivings

Take With a Pinch of Salt Quiz

Choose the best phrase to complete the sentence.

You should _________ the rumours about the new teacher, they are probably not true.

A) Take with a pinch of salt 

B) Take with a spoon of sugar 

C) Take with a drop of lemon 

D) Take with a glass of water

The correct answer is A) 

We hope that this blog helped you understand the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom “take with a pinch of salt”. Learn more idioms like this every day by subscribing to Leverage Edu. Happy Learning!