salt of the earth

American  

noun

1. an individual or group considered as representative of the best or noblest elements of society.

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salt of the Earth Cultural  

1. Basic, fundamental goodness; the phrase can be used to describe any simple, good person: “I like Mary: she's reliable, trustworthy, and straightforward; she's the salt of the Earth.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers, who are mainly fishermen and other simple people, “Ye are the salt of the Earth.”

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Etymology

Origin of salt of the earth

1350–1400; Middle English; after Matthew 5:13

Example Sentences

In 2014’s “The Salt of the Earth,” Wenders chronicled the contemporary work of internationally revered photographer and photojournalist Sebastião Salgado, who dedicated his life to documenting global societies in series that opposed war and social injustice.

From Salon

You know, the salt of the earth.

From BBC

“The people we cater to at these things are ... everyday people, salt of the earth people.”

From Los Angeles Times

Over the course of her three-decade career, Chloë Sevigny has built an eclectic résumé playing complex women whom she describes as “the moral compass” or “the salt of the earth” in a story.

From Los Angeles Times

She then became a member of the Party of Women, before joining the Winsford Salt of the Earth Party, ultimately settling as an Independent in July 2024.

From BBC

Related Words

• admirable
• decent
• deserving
• desirable
• excellent
• honest
• laudable
• noble
• reliable
• satisfying
• true
• trustworthy
• valuable
• worthwhile