noun phrase

salt of the earth

sawlt uhv thee URTH

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Salt of the earth (noun phrase) means an ordinary, decent, dependable person who does good without fuss and can be counted on; used of people considered thoroughly worthy. Example: “Her neighbours are the salt of the earth, always first to help.”

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."

"He was salt of the earth, the kind who fixed your car and refused payment."

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."

How to use salt of the earth

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA really good, ordinary, reliable person.

When to use it

Neutral to affectionate; slightly old-fashioned but still widely used, particularly in British speech.

Memory tip

Use it of character, never of skill; a brilliant surgeon is not salt of the earth for being brilliant.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

the salt of the earth salt-of-the-earth people absolute salt of the earth

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her neighbours are the _____, always first to help.

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.

Origin: Hebrew and Greek, via the Bible

Synonyms

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good sort decent people backbone of the community down-to-earth unpretentious homespun

Antonyms

pretentious affected

Related words

moved affected practical studied touched influenced assuming realistic

Rhymes for salt of the earth

earth dearth hearth unearth

See all rhymes for 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.

What is the meaning of salt of the earth?

"salt of the earth" (noun phrase) means an ordinary, decent, dependable person who does good without fuss and can be counted on; used of people considered thoroughly worthy.

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