“with a pinch of salt”是英语中表示怀疑态度的经典习语,核心含义是:对某件事“半信半疑”“有所保留地相信”,即不全盘接受信息的真实性或可靠性。
字面:“加一撮盐”;
引申:源于古代“盐能中和毒性/杂质”的认知,后来延伸为“对信息进行‘过滤’——不全信”。
通常与take/hear/accept/view等动词搭配,结构为:
(对某事半信半疑/有所保留地接受)
1、 He claimed he could speak 10 languages fluently, but I took that with a pinch of salt.
(他说自己能流利讲10种语言,但我半信半疑。)
2、 You should hear her stories about celebrities with a pinch of salt—she loves to exaggerate.
(她讲的名人八卦你要打个折扣听——她爱夸张。)
3、 The news about the product’s “miracle effects” was taken with a pinch of salt by most consumers.
(这款产品“神奇功效”的新闻,大多数消费者都没全信。)
意思完全相同(“加一粒盐”),更常见于美国语境:
Take his investment advice with a grain of salt—he lost all his money last year.
(他的投资建议别全信——去年他把钱全赔光了。)
当信息听起来太夸张、缺乏证据,或说话者有“夸大/说谎”的习惯时,用这个短语表达“不盲目相信”。
简言之,“with a pinch of salt”就是告诉对方:这个信息我没全信,得打个问号~