take it with a grain of salt

be sceptical; don't believe completely

• He's known to embellish — take his stories with a grain of salt.
• When reading tabloid news, it's best to take it with a grain of salt.
• Her promises are often exaggerated, so take them with a grain of salt.

This idiom is informal and often used in spoken English to advise caution with information that might be exaggerated or unreliable. It's common in everyday conversation and media, especially in English-speaking cultures.

A common mistake is to use the phrase 'take it with a pinch of salt', which, while understood, is less common in American English. The preferred version, especially in the US, is 'with a grain of salt'.

• burn the midnight oil
  work late into the night
• throw in the towel
  give up; surrender
• a rule of thumb
  a rough practical guideline based on experience
• the bottom line
  the most important fact or conclusion