THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
The salt of the earth
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
A very good, honest and unpretentious person or group of people.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Our neighbours are the salt of the earth; they always offer practical help without seeking attention.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
Our neighbours are ________; they always offer practical help without seeking attention.
Show the answer
The salt of the earth — A very good, honest and unpretentious person or group of people.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “The salt of the earth” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
A very good, honest and unpretentious person or group of people.
Compare: Our neighbours are the salt of the earth; they always offer practical help without seeking attention.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this warm expression to praise someone’s character. It is personal, conversational praise rather than a description of professional skill.
More examples in context
- I think the volunteers who keep the centre running are the salt of the earth.
- She called her grandfather the salt of the earth because of his honesty and kindness.
Usage note
A common pattern is “Someone is the salt of the earth”. Before a noun, the adjective form can be hyphenated: “a salt-of-the-earth person”. The idiom is about character, not food.
A short conversation
A: What are your new neighbours like?
B: They’re the salt of the earth. They helped us settle in and asked for nothing in return.
A: You must be glad to live nearby.
One more practice question
Which qualities does “the salt of the earth” praise?
A. Honesty, goodness and lack of pretension.
B. Dishonesty and a sense of superiority.
Check your answer
A. The phrase warmly praises a decent, down-to-earth character.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.