What is the origin of the expression, "take with a grain of salt"? It sounds like something a doctor would say to a patient on giving him a pill, but it's not obvious to me whence the meaning "be a bit skeptical" arises.
Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
But I got that off the internet, so take it with a grain of salt.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
"Take it with a pliny the elder"
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
"Take It! With Pliny the Elder"
The Romans invented the celebrity self help seminar.
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
quote:The suggestion is that injurious effects can be moderated by the taking of a grain of salt.
Seems to me the writer didn't see the humor in the statement: "be taken fasting, plus a grain of salt."
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that this means "don't eat it."
As for the expression in its current form, I always assumed that salt would cover the taste of rotten food. So if someone offers you rotten advice, take it with a grain of salt.
[ February 24, 2011, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: Glenn Arnold ]