Question:

When Rahul said he could complete the project in two days, I took it with a grain of salt. What does the idiom "with a grain of salt" mean?

Show Hint

Learn common idioms as they often appear in comprehension and vocabulary questions.

Updated On: May 31, 2025

Completely believed it
Ignored it altogether
Accepted it but with doubt
Was surprised by it

Hide Solution

Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The idiom "with a grain of salt" means to accept something but with skepticism or doubt. When someone takes a statement "with a grain of salt," it implies they do not fully believe it and consider it might not be entirely true or accurate. In the context of the provided sentence, when Rahul said he could finish the project in two days, the speaker did not completely believe Rahul and had doubts about the feasibility of his claim.

Options	Meaning
Completely believed it	To have full trust or confidence in what is said.
Ignored it altogether	To dismiss or pay no attention to something.
Accepted it but with doubt	To tentatively believe something with skepticism.
Was surprised by it	To be taken aback or shocked by something.

Hence, the idiom "with a grain of salt" would most accurately translate to: Accepted it but with doubt.

Was this answer helpful?

Top Questions on Idioms

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List-I with the appropriate idioms given in List-II:

List-I (Sentences) and List-II (Idioms)

List-I (Sentences)	List-II (Idioms)
(A) With the project deadline approaching, the team had to	(II) burn the midnight oil
to meet the submission date.
(B) As soon as the fitness trend started, many people decided to	(III) jump on the bandwagon
and join the new workout class.
(C) Despite the promise of secrecy, Mark couldn't resist the temptation to	(III) jump on the bandwagon
about the surprise party.
(D) After a long day at work, I am ready to	(I) hit the hay
and get a good night's sleep.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

View Solution

Match the idioms given in List-I with the appropriate meanings given in List-II:

List-I (Idioms) and List-II (Meanings)

List-I (Idioms)	List-II (Meanings)
(A) Break the ice	(III) To initiate conversation in a social setting, especially in a formal or awkward situation.
(B) Hit the nail on the head	(I) To describe precisely the main point or issue, addressing it directly.
(C) Cost an arm and a leg	(IV) Something very expensive or costly.
(D) Bite the bullet	(II) To endure a painful or difficult situation with courage and resilience.