166 - Expression: To Take It With A Grain Of Salt
2Digest
This episode of the American English podcast focuses on the expression "to take something with a grain of salt." Shawna begins by sharing listener feedback on her previous episode about culture shock in the US, highlighting various cultural differences, such as prescription drug ads, pharmacy convenience stores, and the prevalence of "no firearm" signs. She then explains the meaning of the expression "to take something with a grain of salt," which means to be skeptical or not fully believe something. The origin of the phrase is traced back to ancient Roman times and its use in English literature. Shawna provides examples of how to use the expression in everyday life, such as when reading celebrity gossip, endorsements, or social media posts. The episode concludes with a pronunciation exercise and a reminder to stay tuned for the next episode, which will feature an irregular verb lesson using McDonald's as the story.
Outlines
Introduction and Listener Feedback
This Chapter begins with a brief introduction to the American English podcast and then dives into listener feedback on the previous episode about culture shock in the US. Shawna shares various comments from listeners about their experiences with cultural differences, including prescription drug ads, pharmacy convenience stores, and the prevalence of "no firearm" signs. She acknowledges the diverse perspectives and encourages listeners to share their own experiences.
Joke and Expression of the Day
This Chapter starts with a humorous joke about a hamburger going to the gym, highlighting the wordplay in English. Shawna then introduces the expression "to take something with a grain of salt," explaining its meaning and origin. She provides examples of how to use the expression in everyday life, such as when reading celebrity gossip, endorsements, or social media posts. The chapter concludes with a pronunciation exercise and a reminder to stay tuned for the next episode, which will feature an irregular verb lesson using McDonald's as the story.
Keywords
culture shock
The feeling of disorientation and confusion that a person may experience when they are in a new and unfamiliar environment. It can be caused by differences in language, customs, values, and social norms. Common symptoms of culture shock include anxiety, loneliness, homesickness, and difficulty adjusting to the new culture.
take something with a grain of salt
An idiom that means to be skeptical or not fully believe something. It suggests that information or a statement should be considered carefully and critically. The phrase originated in ancient Roman times, where it was used to describe a method of neutralizing poison by consuming a small amount of salt with it. Over time, the phrase evolved into a figurative expression, suggesting that one should approach questionable or exaggerated information with skepticism.
Pliny the Elder
A Roman author, naturalist, and naval commander who lived in the 1st century AD. He is best known for his work "Naturalis Historia," a comprehensive encyclopedia of natural history that covered a wide range of topics, including botany, zoology, astronomy, and geography. Pliny the Elder's work was a major source of information for later generations of scholars and writers.
tabloid
A type of newspaper or magazine that focuses on sensationalized news, gossip, and celebrity culture. Tabloids are often characterized by their use of large headlines, dramatic photographs, and lurid stories. They are often criticized for their lack of journalistic integrity and their tendency to publish inaccurate or misleading information.
homonym
A word that has the same spelling and/or pronunciation as another word, but has a different meaning. For example, the words "bear" (a large mammal) and "bear" (to carry) are homonyms. Homonyms can often lead to confusion and wordplay, as they can be used in different contexts to create humorous or ironic effects.
FDA
The Food and Drug Administration, a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and radiation-emitting products.
McDonald's
An American multinational fast food corporation, founded in 1940. McDonald's is the world's largest restaurant chain by revenue, serving over 69 million customers daily in over 100 countries. The company is known for its iconic golden arches logo, its signature Big Mac hamburger, and its focus on efficiency and affordability.
The Founder
A 2016 biographical drama film that tells the story of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's. The film stars Michael Keaton as Kroc and explores his rise to success as he transformed the small hamburger stand into a global empire. The film received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, and historical accuracy.
Q&A
What does it mean to "take something with a grain of salt"?
It means to be skeptical or not fully believe something. It suggests that information or a statement should be considered carefully and critically.
Where did the expression "to take something with a grain of salt" originate?
The phrase has its origins in ancient Roman times, where it was used to describe a method of neutralizing poison by consuming a small amount of salt with it. Over time, the phrase evolved into a figurative expression, suggesting that one should approach questionable or exaggerated information with skepticism.
What are some examples of situations where you might "take something with a grain of salt"?
You might take celebrity gossip, endorsements, or social media posts with a grain of salt. It's important to be skeptical of information that might be sensationalized or misleading.
What are some cultural differences that listeners shared about the US?
Listeners shared their experiences with prescription drug ads, pharmacy convenience stores, the prevalence of "no firearm" signs, and the use of buzzers at restaurants.
What is the next episode of the American English podcast about?
The next episode will feature an irregular verb lesson using McDonald's as the story.
Show Notes
In today's episode, we'll begin by going through the commentary you guys made on Culture Shock in the United States. Afterwards, I'll tell you a joke, we'll go over the expression "to take it with a grain of salt," and we'll do a pronunciation exercise.
Premium Content for this episode is available with both of these:
Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file.- All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150)
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Table of contents
United States
