take (something) with a grain of salt

take (something) with a grain of salt

To consider or evaluate something, such as a statement, with the understanding that it may not be completely true or accurate, typically due to the unreliability of the source. I heard that you can get a free movie ticket if you wear red, but Kevin told me that, so I'm going to take it with a grain of salt. Take whatever that paper publishes with a grain of salt—it's really a tabloid.

See also: grain, of, salt, take