Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
headquarters of a business; dwelling place; abode; home; domicile
independent
residence
gift
elevator
TOEIC practice test: Online word games: Free Nouns Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Idiom 'with a grain of salt'



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
What's that word again? | Idiom 'go off the deep end'
Message Author
Idiom 'with a grain of salt' Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:12 am  Idiom 'with a grain of salt'
 

Hi,

Could you help me with:

Quote:
with a grain of salt

Also, with a pinch of salt. Skeptically, with reservations. For example, I always take Sandy's stories about illnesses with a grain of saltshe tends to exaggerate. This expression is a translation of the Latin cum grano salis, which Pliny used in describing Pompey's discovery of an antidote for poison (to be taken with a grain of salt). It was soon adopted by English writers.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

My understanding was: Pliny felt skeptical about Pompey's discovery so he 'ate' it with a pinch of salt instead of taking in as it was. Could I think this way? Thank you.

haihao
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1389
Location: Japan

Idiom 'with a grain of salt' Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:19 am  Idiom 'with a grain of salt'
 

.
It has nothing to do with Pliny's opinion about Pompey. From Wikipaedia:

The phrase comes from Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia, regarding the discovery of a recipe for an antidote to a poison. In the antidote, one of the ingredients was a grain of salt. Threats involving the poison were thus to be taken "with a grain of salt" and therefore less seriously.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Mister Micawber

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 4763
Location: Yokohama, Japan

Are you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!In this story you'll learn everything about the passive voiceEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsStart exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English course
Idiom 'with a grain of salt' Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:50 am  Idiom 'with a grain of salt'
 

You did give me what I wanted, Mister Micawber. Thank you so very much.

haihao
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 1389
Location: Japan

Idiom 'with a grain of salt' Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:19 pm  Idiom 'with a grain of salt'
 

This is interesting. I was always told that, since salt was used as money in the Roman empire, "take it with a grain of salt" meant not to trust someone's statement unless he backs it up with something concrete, i.e., puts his money where his mouth is.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4454
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Display posts from previous:   
What's that word again? | Idiom 'go off the deep end'
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Idiom 'with a grain of salt' All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Woman students vs. Female studentsMy brother and I each... vs. My brother and I all...Be 5/10/20 vs. Be 5/10/20 years oldIdiom 'in deep water'I'm wondering or I wonder?Phrase: all-fired sure of oneself :-)The meaning of 'cadbury'meaning of mini-sequence?difference between eczema, rash and blotch and their meaningsimpossibility to control vs. impossibility of controlIdiom 'your guess is as good as mine'always replace with sometimes"what you are" or "who you are"I went there three times vs. I've been there three timesIs it impossible to learn swimming without entering the water?Meaning of CounterPunctuation help: I'm terribly sorry for disturbing your meal, but once you...meaning of pitch-dark, brief whirl-windIdiom 'with a grain of salt'

Discover English-test.net
Hi all, I am from Asia and I need to improve my EnglishPreposition at the end"in the know", "at the ready"...Expression: "I knew that her last breath would ..."Any tips of Big University in Spain?TOEIC test: Vocabulary Words: English NounsTOEIC test: Word games: Free Online Noun QuizMeaning of manner, mission, purchase, banknote, crop, violationBest Language CDs to speak German: Pimsleur torrentIdiom quiz: For GoodEnglish teacher training: Corporate TaxationWellness audio books, CDs, tapes, used cassettes, audio download

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail