with a grain of salt

Take them with a grain of salt, however: De Jong, then in his 70s, was very experienced but not formally trained in archaeology.

Take that with a grain of salt, maybe, because the White House is simultaneously making noise about investigating Powell—who can only be fired “for cause,” i.e., for misconduct—for purportedly spending too much on Fed headquarters renovations.

"POWs are a particularly vulnerable category of witnesses, any evidence they give should be taken with a grain of salt."

“Taiwan is taking it with a grain of salt. I think there’s an understanding that nice, big, round numbers create bargaining positions, but may not be the final numbers that are agreed on,” said Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist at Australia National University who specializes in cross-strait relations.

James learned to take everything with a grain of salt.