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Author Topic: Grain of salt
King of Men
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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.
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Flying Fish
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http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/take-with-a-grain-of-salt.html

But I got that off the internet, so take it with a grain of salt.
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Samprimary
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"Take it with a pliny the elder"
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scifibum
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"Take It! With Pliny the Elder"

The Romans invented the celebrity self help seminar.
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Glenn Arnold
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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 ]
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