2006-06-20 07:10:21 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
(With) a grain of salt is a literal translation of a Latin phrase, (***) grano salis. A pinch of salt may also be used.
The phrase comes from Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia, regarding the discovery of a recipe for an antidote to a poison. In the antidote, one of the ingredients was a grain of salt. Threats involving the poison were thus to be taken "with a grain of salt" and therefore less seriously. In reality, salt is not an antidote to any poison.
In common parlance, if something is to be taken with a grain of salt, it means that a measure of healthy skepticism should be applied regarding a claim; that it should not be blindly accepted and believed without any doubt or reservation. According to the Oxford English Dictionary 'to take 'it' with a grain of salt' means 'to accept a thing less than fully'. It dates this usage back to 1647.
2006-06-20 12:21:53 · answer #1 · answered by gospieler 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To “take something with a grain of salt” is to view a statement with a skeptical attitude. it
henseforth,when someone says,take something with a grain of salt. consider something to be not completely true or right.
It's usage has dated back to at least 1647(The phrase comes from Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia, regarding the discovery of a recipe for an antidote to a poison. In the antidote, one of the ingredients was a grain of salt. Threats involving the poison were thus to be taken "with a grain of salt" and therefore less seriously. In reality, salt is not an antidote to any poison.)hense,something not completely true!!!
2006-06-20 07:30:31 · answer #2 · answered by lakotahdreamer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Accept as the truth, but with reservations.
Salt was though to have preventitive medicinal qualities, possibly an antidote for poison. The saying has been around for thousands of years ("c u m grano salis" in Latin)
Food would be taken with a grain of salt if they were suspiscious that the food may be poisonous or may cause illness.
2006-06-20 07:19:03 · answer #3 · answered by Mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a grain of salt is small, and it means do not pay much attention to it....
some lady in the old days was talking to her children about not fighting...
I dont know
2006-06-20 07:14:05 · answer #4 · answered by Karla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think.... agrain of salt is worthless on its own t4 no point in paying any attention to it, or something like that
2006-06-20 07:13:42 · answer #5 · answered by T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all of our gramma's used to say that
2006-06-20 07:13:47 · answer #6 · answered by msladybug17268 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check here: http://www.word-detective.com/052598.html#grainosalt
2006-06-20 07:16:49 · answer #7 · answered by Sherry K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋