salt of the earth
2 antonyms and opposites of salt of the earth, grouped by meaning.
Noun phrase — An ordinary, decent, dependable person who does good without fuss and can be counted on; used of people considered thoroughly worthy.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun phrase
An ordinary, decent, dependable person who does good without fuss and can be counted on; used of people considered thoroughly worthy.
“Her neighbours are the salt of the earth, always first to help.”
2. adjective phrase
Plain, honest and unpretentious, especially in a working-class way.
“It is a salt-of-the-earth town where nobody puts on airs.”
Opposites
Antonyms
How to use salt of the earth
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral to affectionate; slightly old-fashioned but still widely used, particularly in British speech.
Etymology
From the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13, where Jesus tells his followers they are the salt of the earth. Salt was valued as a preservative and seasoning, so the phrase praised them as what keeps the world wholesome.
Full origin of salt of the earth →Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to call someone the salt of the earth?
It means they are genuinely good, honest and reliable, without needing recognition for it. The compliment carries a strong flavour of ordinariness, so it fits a helpful neighbour better than a celebrity.
Is salt of the earth a compliment or an insult?
It is a compliment, and a warm one. A very small edge of condescension can creep in when a wealthier speaker uses it of working-class people, so tone matters.
Do you hyphenate salt of the earth?
Only before a noun, as in salt-of-the-earth values. As a standalone description it stays unhyphenated: they are the salt of the earth.