English Idiom – Salt of the earth.
A very good, honest, kind and unpretentious person. Someone genuine and down-to-earth, who is valuable to the people around them.
This idiom is a compliment. We usually say someone is (the) salt of the earth. The phrase comes from the Bible, where Jesus tells his followers “Ye are the salt of the earth” – salt being something precious and useful.
Don’t confuse it with take something with a pinch of salt, which means to doubt whether something is completely true.
Usage:
- Praising a kind, generous person who always helps others.
- Describing someone famous who is still humble and friendly.
- Talking about someone who volunteers to help people in need.
Example:
- “My favourite pop star was in the pub last night! She spent hours chatting with everyone and even bought a round. She’s the salt of the earth!”
In the News
Spotted in the news“…the King told the couple that people like them were ‘salt of the earth’…”theoldhamtimes.co.ukWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
A very good, honest, kind and unpretentious person.
From the Bible, in the Sermon on the Mount.
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