salt of the earth
English
Etymology
Calque of Ancient Greek τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς (tò hálas tês gês) in the Book of Matthew, chapter 5, verse 13.
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Noun
salt of the earth (uncountable)
- (idiomatic, archaic) A most worthy person.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 5:13:
- Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
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- (idiomatic) A decent, dependable, unpretentious person.
- May 23 1853, “Article 7”, in The New York Times:
- Good men are the salt of the earth, and their deeds live after them.
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Translations
a decent, dependable person
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References
- salt of the earth at OneLook Dictionary Search
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