take smb. (or smth.) with a grain (or pinch) of salt

   oтнocитьcя к кoму-л. (или к чeму-л.) cкeптичecки, нeдoвepчивo, кpитичecки [этим. лaт.]

    Cowperwood, as was natural, heard much of her stage life. At first he took all this palaver with a grain of salt (Th. Dreiser). She was engaged on a long poem called "Silence". And though he took her and her poems... with a pinch of satirical salt, he was to some extent impressed (J. Lindsay)