with a grain of salt

1. Also, with a pinch of salt. Skeptically, with reservations. For example, I always take Sandy's stories about illnesses with a grain of salt—she tends to exaggerate. This expression is a translation of the Latin cum grano salis, which Pliny used in describing Pompey's discovery of an antidote for poison (to be taken with a grain of salt). It was soon adopted by English writers.

Example Sentences

Take that with a grain of salt, maybe, because the White House is simultaneously making noise about investigating Powell—who can only be fired “for cause,” i.e., for misconduct—for purportedly spending too much on Fed headquarters renovations.

From Slate

"POWs are a particularly vulnerable category of witnesses, any evidence they give should be taken with a grain of salt."

From BBC

“Taiwan is taking it with a grain of salt. I think there’s an understanding that nice, big, round numbers create bargaining positions, but may not be the final numbers that are agreed on,” said Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist at Australia National University who specializes in cross-strait relations.

From Los Angeles Times

James learned to take everything with a grain of salt.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m from DOJ and I spent a lot of time there so take this with a grain of salt, but this is humongous in DOJ’s history.

From Slate