To view something with skepticism or doubt; to not believe something completely.
This phrase dates back to ancient Rome, where Pliny the Elder wrote about taking an antidote 'cum grano salis' (with a grain of salt) to neutralize poison. The idea evolved metaphorically to mean that a small amount of skepticism helps neutralize potentially false information.
The phrase reveals our ancestors' sophisticated understanding of critical thinking, packaged in culinary terms. Interestingly, salt was once so valuable it was used as currency, making this idiom doubly meaningful - you're spending something precious (your discernment) to protect yourself from bad information.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.