Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“[My sons] think my fame is funny…They take it with a grain of salt!”
- Pop singer Rick Springfield on his sons’ feelings about having a famous dad. (Us Weekly)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
not take something seriously
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
Accounts differ about the origin of the phrase take it with a grain of salt. Some say the phrase dates back to the ancient Romans. A recipe for a remedy to a poison included a grain, or a small bit, of salt. Another origin story, also from ancient Rome, is about a general who was trying to make himself immune to poison. He would drink small amounts of poison to try to build up his resistance, and take them with a small amount of salt to make them easier to swallow.
Regardless of the exact origin, the meaning is the same. A little bit of salt lessens the effects of something serious or harmful. Today, when we say we’ll take it with a grain of salt, we’re typically not talking about something as major as poisoning. We simply mean that we won’t take it too seriously or literally. You might say, “My boss told me that he’s going to give me a promotion, but I’ll take his promise with a grain of salt. He’s made that promise before.”
Pop singer Rick Springfield knows that his sons don’t get too caught up in how famous he is. They don’t take it too seriously. In fact, they have a sense of humor about it. They take it with a grain of salt.
Can you think of an occasion where you’ve taken something with a grain of salt?
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“Sure, I’m honored to receive his praise, but I’ll take it with a grain of salt. He is my father, after all.”
“I’m sorry she yelled at you, but try to take it with a grain of salt. She’s having a bad day.”
“She always tries to take compliments with a grain of salt. She doesn’t want to get a big ego.”