attic salt

American  

noun

1. dry, delicate wit.

---

Attic salt British  

noun

1. refined incisive wit

---

Etymology

Origin of attic salt

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

Triumph swam in my father’s eyes, at the repartee—the Attic salt brought water into them—and so Obadiah heard no more about it.

From Project Gutenberg

His humour was the pure Attic salt.

From Project Gutenberg

Let the sprightly epigram never lighten the long periods of your speech nor the Attic salt flavour the roast beef of your conversation.

From Project Gutenberg

If the same had been told by the patrician Palmerston, instead of the plebeian Lincoln, they would not have lacked the "Attic salt," but would have rivaled Dean Swift or Sidney Smith.

From Project Gutenberg

Alas, if I had only taken the supposed rapidity of my progress with a grain of attic salt!

From Project Gutenberg