With a Grain of Salt——半信半疑

** be skeptical（持懷疑態度）// accept with reservations（接受但有所保留）

~~ 不能輕信；半信半疑；將信將疑；有所保留；持保留態度；持懷疑態度；須打折扣地

~~ take with a grain of salt // with a pinch of salt // suspiciously // distrustfully // questionably // skeptically // untrustworthily // doubtingly // hesitantly // reluctantly

!! Pliny the historian wrote that when Roman general Pompey seized the palace of king Mithridates ofPontus, he foundPontus’ fabled secret antidote against poisons that had protected the king all his life. It contained 72 ingredients, which Pliny mentioned none, but the last line of the formula he wrote was: "to be taken with a grain of salt." Pliny’s remark was thus considered "skeptical."

（歷史學家Pliny寫道，當羅馬將軍Pompey佔據Pontus國王Mithridates的宮殿時，他發現了Pontus傳說中的秘密解毒藥，這些解藥一生保護着國王。它含有七十二種成份，Pliny一個都沒有提及，但是他寫的最後一行配方是：“與一粒鹽一起使用。”因此，Pliny的評論被認為是“持懷疑態度”。）

!! This idea might come from Romans’ belief that when food was suspected of containing poisons, salt was sprinkled on it.

（這理念可能從羅馬人認為當食物疑似被落毒時，便會在食物上撒鹽。）

>> Believing unsubstantiated rumors may be detrimental to yourself, so take them only with a grain of salt.

（錯信未經證實的傳言，可能會對自己不利，所以不能輕信它們。）

>> About the legality of mail ballots, Trump’s supporters are generally taking it with a grain of salt.

（對於郵件選票的合法性，特朗普的支持者普遍抱有半信半疑的態度。）

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師 李啟文　　教授