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

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

“It’s a place of people who are salt of the earth,” he concluded, moving on to guacamole that he spiked with La Parrilla’s salsa de chile de árbol.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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