'Take It With A PINCH OF SALT' - What does this phrase mean? - Speak English with Mr Duncan

It would appear that we are now living in an age where it is hard

to work out whether or not something is real, or whether it is fake.

The dividing line between what is true and what is a lie has become very narrow.

Every day we see things around us that seem real.

However, the reality of that thing may eventually be brought into question.

The feeling of doubt may creep into our thoughts about that particular thing.

A certain fact concerning a particular subject may at first seem genuine.

Something seen or observed might appear real at first, but later it is revealed as being fake.

An apparently true fact is investigated and revealed as being...

untrue.

A documented moment can be carefully analysed and may later turn out to be created or staged.

That thing is not real. It is fake.

It was staged.

The information was fabricated.

It is a lie.

To fabricate something means create or construct something that did not exist before. Something is created.

You can fabricate information.

We often describe this action as making things up.

Something is made up.

There is an interesting phrase in English that relates to the reaction of being, unsure about the truth of something.

You might say that you feel that the information should be taken ‘with a pinch of salt’.

This expression perfectly expresses the feeling of doubt about something.

To take something with a pinch of salt means that you are unsure about the thing you have been told.

To have doubt about the truth of something. A person might make a claim about, something.

Their statement seems incredible, so you might take it with a pinch of salt.

Of course, it is possible to do your own research into what was said.

A claim made might turn out to be true.

Or it may be a lie. Just as you suspected.

These days, we seem to be living in a world where reality is much harder to see.

The fine line between what is real and what is made up has become blurred.

Modern technology has given us the ability to create our own reality.

The advancement of artificial intelligence allows us to create things that seem real, but are in fact fake.

These days, we seem to be taking more and more things with a pinch of salt.

The feeling of doubt, distrust, skepticism, wariness and disbelief

are all part of the natural process of evaluating the world around us.

You might say that it is part of our survival technique.

The bottom line of all this is...

if you are in doubt of anything, then do your own research.

Look for yourself.

Check out what you have been told,

Instead of taking it at face value.

to take something at face value means to trust something straight away,

without asking any questions.

Of course, it's not all doom and gloom.

It is still possible to spot or notice when something is not true.

People do lie, but not always.

And as for technology, a computer still can't recreate the human spark,

The human intellect, the human spirit, the deep seated human rationality,

the ability to create our own beauty,

and those wonderful, unique human characteristics that make each one of us who we are.