Referring to how certain things are doubted or questioned, either fully or literally: There is some truth in the statement, but we must be careful about accepting it as correct, take it cum grano salis.

A cum grano salis is said to be one of the most familiar Latin expressions available when a person does not fully believe something or someone and suggests a certain caution or reserve.

Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world, so a grain of salt is not to be taken as a trivial matter. The English word “salary” is derived from the Latin, salarium, which was the money allotted to Roman soldiers for purchases of salt; therefore, it was their pay.

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