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Post by icarly on Nov 22, 2012 6:05:19 GMT
We have herd the term, “Take it with a grain of salt”.
This normally suggests news that is out of the ordinary or otherwise incomprehensible, but dose eating something indigestible with a grain of salt or a lot of salt help you digest it?
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Post by the light works on Nov 22, 2012 7:18:13 GMT
actually "take it with a grain of salt" implies that it is probably untrue.
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ronbo6
Demi-Minion
Survivor: End of the World. 12/21/2012
Posts: 91
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Post by ronbo6 on Nov 23, 2012 7:36:08 GMT
The saying dates back to ancient Rome, where Pompey tried to make himself immune to poisons by ingesting small amounts of same.
Some of those poisons were pretty nasty-tasting, so to help him ckoke them down he actually DID mix them with salt.
If Pompey's experience is any indication, "Taking it witha grain of salt" DOES help someone get something unpalatable down.
Later usage has morphed this saying into the belief or disbelief of STORIES that are "hard to swallow".
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Post by silverdragon on Nov 23, 2012 8:35:02 GMT
Hard to Swallow, yes, but, the saying implies that YOU may not like it, but its True.......
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ronbo6
Demi-Minion
Survivor: End of the World. 12/21/2012
Posts: 91
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Post by ronbo6 on Nov 24, 2012 18:48:05 GMT
I always figured that the meaning of the saying was more along the lines of:
"If you say it is true, I am (sort of) willing to accept that FOR NOW, but PLEASE allow me to retain some reservations about what you said."
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Post by Lokifan on Nov 24, 2012 19:37:29 GMT
I, too, understood it that it meant the statement was to be viewed suspiciously. It may be only partially true, or may even be completely wrong, palatable or not.
I've always viewed it as a comment on the source of the claim, rather than the statement itself. It's another way to say the source is not always reliable.
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Post by silverdragon on Nov 26, 2012 9:01:14 GMT
I suppose its almost along the lines of "I will believe it for now, as I cant think of any valid argument"....
Of course many people will do some research if its THAT hard to swallow, but at the time, if you dont know any different, you have to accept it?... especially if there is no valid reason why it COULDN'T be true?....
Besides, before it was tested and proved to be confirmed, who would have believed the bullet spinning on ice video?....
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bioLarzen
Demi-Minion
"I reject your avatars and substitute my own."
Posts: 86
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Post by bioLarzen on Jan 8, 2013 11:58:49 GMT
Reading the comments, I guess what the Mythbusters should first deal with about this idiom is its actual meaning  bio |
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