Take with a pinch (grain) of salt—持保留態度,半信半疑

(to consider or evaluate something, such as a statement, while keeping in mind that it may not be completely accurate, typically due to the unreliability of the source)

Examples:

  • Take whatever that paper publishes with a pinch of salt—it’s really tabloid.
  • You have to take what he says with a pinch of salt.

(BBC, 2017/10/02)

Spain’s complicated relationship with the region of Catalonia is heading for the unknown.

After violence by Spanish police, a declaration of independence by Catalonia’s regional government seems more likely than ever before.

Given the chaotic nature of the vote, the turnout and voting figures should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The government in Madrid is holding talks with Spain’s political leaders to discuss a response to the biggest political crisis this country has seen in decades.

西班牙和加泰隆尼亞地區的複雜關係正走向未知—西班牙警方的暴力鎮壓之後，加泰隆尼亞地方政府宣布獨立的可能性似乎比以前更高。由於投票過程混亂，投票率和投票結果都讓人將信將疑。馬德里中央政府跟西國的政治領袖開會，討論該如何處理這個西班牙幾十年來未曾見過的政治危機。

(CNN, 2017/09/19) Military threats may also not be exactly what they seem.

While top US officials are increasingly saying they are happy to turn the problem over to US Defense Secretary James Mattis, the Pentagon has yet to explain clearly how the grave consequences that have always augured against a military solution have changed. (…)

軍事威脅有可能表裡不一。美方官員雖然樂意把(美國和北韓之間的)問題丟給國防部長馬蒂斯，但是國防部仍未說明，有什麼改變了一直以來大家反對武力解決方案的理由 (因為武力解決朝鮮半島問題會有嚴重後果，南韓和日本都堅決反對)。

Until the Pentagon can solve that conundrum, some observers will take US military threats with a pinch of salt — unless they conclude that Trump is ready to accept a huge humanitarian toll in Asia — to keep America safe from North Korea.

五角大廈要能解決這個難題，觀察家對於武力恫嚇北韓以保美國安全，才不會半信半疑—除非他們覺得川普總統可以接受以亞洲人民死傷枕籍為代價。

Photos: 101 ways to survive, The Local, Express

Sound (中文解釋): ICRT podcast