salt of the earth, the

Idioms  

1. The best or noblest of their kind, as in These campers are the salt of the earth. This metaphoric term was used by Jesus for those who were persecuted for being loyal to him (Matthew 5:13) and has been repeated ever since.

---

Example Sentences

He plays the electric guitars that sound like actual cats on “Stray Cat Blues”—all of them—and even croaks the opening lines of “Salt of the Earth,” the album’s closer, which might be the most convincing attempt at “political” songwriting in the Stones’ catalog.

From Slate

The salt of the earth, the heart of the heartland, the men and women who put food on your table.

From Washington Post

“We really have the salt of the earth — the people who have stuck around, they’re really good people,” said Arguelles, who’s encouraged by the new and recalled workers that are coming in to her cafe, saying they bring an exciting energy.

From Los Angeles Times

For working people, the ones our politicians used to salute as the salt of the earth, the situation never improves.

From Salon

“If it is communistic to depict poverty in the United States, then Life magazine, the New York Times and President Johnson himself, in trying to open our eyes on this subject, are purveyors of Communism,” Mr. Dickstein argued in court, according to thebook “Salt of the Earth: The Story of a Film” by director Herbert Biberman.

From Washington Post