Do you know the meaning?

I understand that it means not to take a person too seriously. But, why "with a grain of salt"? What specifically does a "grain of salt" have to do with not taking someone seriously? That is what I have never gotten. I have always understood that people are saying not to take a person too seriously. I just don't get how salt has anything to do with it! LOL!

OKay. Got it. I for one dont really know the explanation of that phrase. At least now I know the meaning of it. Thanks for the info!

Hello sophialin. I understand that it means not to take someone so seriously but, why salt? What does salt have to do with not taking someone so seriously? What does "a grain of salt" mean specifically?

i guess 'with a grain of salt' means rather retain parts for yourself not give out all.

You might be onto something. I know it has always meant not to take someone too seriously but, that "grain of salt" thing has always confused me! LOL! And, I wondered if it has something to do with making something taste better going down. More digestible. LOL!

Thank you for your interpretation. I think you are probably right!

LOL! I still don't get why they recommend "a grain of salt". LOL! I wonder what the origin is. I read somewhere, actually a couple of times, some origins of some popular sayings. I can't remember probably any of them but, they were cool to learn about. I bet this is one of them that actually has an origin as far as why people started saying it. Not just what it means as far as the definition but, when and why people started associating "a grain of salt" with "a copious measure of skepticism...". LOL! I understand how to apply the saying. I don't understand what a "grain of salt" has to do with it! LOL!

But, thank you for your help! And, thank you for taking the time to look it up!

LMAO sorry ... I would think somehow the grain of salt is metaphorically associated with the small amount of truth the "grain".

Okay here is a bit more that I found.
With a grain of salt
Meaning: With a healthy dose of skepticism, suspicion, and caution.
Example: Dave has been known to stretch the truth a bit. Take what he says with a grain of salt.
Origin: Salt is now an inexpensive and readily available commodity. But it was once very valuable due to its high demand as a food preservative and relative scarcity.
Salt was thought to have healing properties and to be an antidote to poisons. To take (eat or drink) something "with a grain of salt" was to practice preventive medicine. One would do this if they were suspicious that the food might be poisonous or may cause illness.
Thanks to Ron Akers
The phrase and meaning is thousands of years old, the Latin equivalent phrase is "cu*m grano salis".
Thanks to Barry Harridge and Richard Laurent

Wow! I bet the folks who originated it back then would be shocked to know how dangerous salt can be when you use too much of it! LOL!

That is funny to know the people thought that you could neutralize poison in food with salt! LOL!

Thank you for this info! It is cool to learn its origin!

Hey Cortjo thank you so much for the BR:))))

My pleasure! Thank you for the great response!

Thank you RavenladyJ. I do understand how to apply it and what it means as a whole. What I don't understand is what a "grain of salt" has to do with it! LOL! It is one of those sayings that I can use as I understand how to but, I am trying to figure out why "a grain of salt". LOL! One of those silly sayings that, if we search hard enough, we can find why people started associating "a grain of salt" with lies. LOL!

Thank you for your help!

Wow! Check you out! I knew someone would know it! Thank you! I wondered how it came about, as well as why a grain of salt. That is really interesting! And, how cool to know that a saying so old in years, decades and centuries, is still used in modern day language!

Thank you for your help! I understood what it meant and how to use it, in the most basic terms. But, I never understood what it meant broken down as far as, why "a grain of salt"? Thank you again for your help!

Grain can be one or grain can be many, as in a "Wheat BAG OF GRAIN", So "A GRAIN OF SALT". Many.

Ok! Even better! Thank you again! You have been very helpful!

Thank you! That is helpful! Isn't it funny how there is deeper meaning in some of the things/sayings that we take for granted?

And, I will check the link out. Thank you for that as well!

I can't remember any others ones right now.

And, I think I remember reading the origin "apple of my eye" but, I can't remember it. I would love it if you could remind me.

And, what is the origin of "Mud in your eyes" because, if I ever knew that one, I can't remember it?

If I can think of any others, I will ask you!

"The apple" was the way they were calling the pupil because they were thinking it was solid and spherical (that now we know is not, because it's a hole) so since when you love someone you look at him very much, his image could be seen reflected in your pupil like if he was inside the "apple".

I wonder if Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter thinking about this pupil thing... LOL!

About "Mud in your eyes", I'm not sure about this, but I've read that was an idiom used by peasants to wish a good season because the more they would get mud in their eyes working in the fields, the more they would have been rewarded with good harvest.

Another explanation says that it was used by soldiers because when they got MITY that meant that a grenade exploded next to them and this meant that they survived, so it's used to wish a long life.

LOL! You are right! Everything does go better with salt! LOL! In fact, I think that probably way too much for my own good! LOL!

ROFL. . .that book was so cool and I don't know where the heck I put it. It had all kinds of expressions and their origin.

LOL! Don't you hate it when you misplace something? Like it sprouted feet and walked away and every time you get close, it just runs for cover and hides somewhere new! LOL!

You need a book shelf! LOL!

Thank you for your interpretation. Most people seem to think that it means that she lies so, to not really believe her when she speaks. LOL!

Thank you for your help!