1.
taking a story with a grain of salt; believing only half of what one is told
The attitude of listening to a story while assuming much of it is exaggeration, so one believes only about half. Most often used in the phrase 話半分に聞く.
話半分に聞く。
to take what one hears with a grain of salt
彼の自慢話は話半分でちょうどいい。
His bragging is best taken at half value.
うわさ話は話半分に聞いておいたほうがいい。
You'd do well to take rumors with a grain of salt.
Literally 'half of the story.' Implies that a story is probably half exaggeration, so only half should be believed.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 話半分に聞く: to listen with a grain of salt
- 話半分でちょうどいい: it's about right to believe only half
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 眉唾: dubious, fishy — emphasizes that a claim itself is suspect, rather than how one should listen to it