the salt of the earth Definition

salt
noun

1. sodium chlorideespecially as used to season and preserve food.
2. A saltcellar.
3. chem.
A chemical compound that is formed when an acid reacts with a base.
4. Liveliness; interest, wit or good sense.

Example: Her opinion added salt to the debate
5. An experienced and usually old sailor.

Form: old salt (also)
6. smelling-salts.

Form: salts
7. Any substance resembling salt in appearance or taste, especially a medicine.

Example: Epsom salts
Form: salts
8. A salting or saltmarsh.

adj

1. Containing salt.

Example: salt water
2. Tasting of salt.
3. Preserved or cured with salt.

Example: salt pork
4. Covered over with or immersed in salt water.
5. Said of a plant: growing in salt soil.

verb salted, salting

1. To season or preserve (food) with salt.
2. To cover (an icy road) with a scattering of salt to melt the ice.
3. To add piquancy, interest or wit to something.
4. mining., slang
To add gold, precious ore, etc to (a mine) to give a deceptive appearance of riches to the mine.

Derivative: saltish
adj

Derivative: saltishness
noun

Derivative: saltless
adj

Derivative: saltly
adverb

Idiom: lay salt on someone's tail (put salt on someone's tail, cast salt on someone's tail)

To find or catch someone, from the humorously recommended method of catching a bird.

Idiom: go through something like a dose of salts

colloq
To do or finish it very quickly.

Idiom: rub salt in someone's wounds

To add to their discomfort, sorrow, shame, etc.

Idiom: the salt of the earth

A consistently reliable or dependable person.

Idiom: take something with a pinch of salt

To treat a statement or proposition sceptically, or with suspicion and reservation.

Idiom: worth one's salt

Competent or useful; worthy of respect.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.

Phrasal Verb: salt something away

To store it up for future use; to hoard it, especially in a miserly way.