Grain of salt

Cum grano salis ( "with a grain of salt " ) is a Latin phrase. The term is now usually used to restrict a statement and to make the listener aware that what is said may not be taken literally in every way, but is formulated sarcastic or exalted in parts, and therefore understood only with drawbacks or limitations should. More rarely, the set is used so that a previous statement does not have to be true in all respects, but " a grain " contains truth.

Cum grano salis probably goes to Pliny the Elder back. This writes in Naturalis historia XXIII, 149, that General Pompey have a remedy against snake venom found, and recommends the means when taking add a grain of salt, " grano salis addito ", which has been transformed into "cum grano salis ". It is unclear whether the salt should make the antidote effectively or already had Pliny doubts about the effectiveness of the recipe and therefore ironically recommended the addition of salt.

Application Examples

• " The Formula " incompatible hardness " is of course to be understood cum grano salis; as the Supreme Court has accepted a case in forfeiture of an operating - additional claim in the amount of 754.98 euros, without explaining why payment of that amount for the tenant is supposed to represent a disproportionate severity (BGH wum 2010, 36). "
• " The present volume contains mainly administrative law, criminal law deals with the economic Nebenstrafrecht primarily while band 6/1. Cum grano salis, one can say: Volume 5 is basically the " Sartorius " Nebenstrafrecht; Volume 6/1 the " Schoenfelder " Nebenstrafrecht. "
• " Although hyperthymische psychopaths and chronic bipolar or cyclothymic in numerous traits match ( see attached essence panel that seeks a dialectical elaboration of opposites, and their individual points are sometimes naturally cum grano salis evaluate ), is psychologically between them a drastic difference in kind. "