"Salt of the earth"...

[cheeriosatdawn]

A notorious snob used this term to describe a friend of mine the other day, then feigned deep hurt and surprise that I didn't pretend to think it a compliment of sorts.

My take on that isn't due only to the phrase, but to the person who uttered it--and what I know she thinks of the woman she used it in reference to.

The speaker can be hideous. And is an elitist to the tips of her (unpolished because polish is deeply vulgar) fingers.

And I know she thinks the friend of mine she was referencing is her inferior.

But AIBU?

If you used the term "salt of the earth" to describe someone, what would you really be trying to say?

[Jessikita]

I don’t associate the term with “class” whatsoever.

I associate it with “down to earthiness”, bluntness and view of the world. Like if they’re forthright and honest with their opinions etc.

[maddiemookins16mum]

To me it's a hardworking, working class, always there to help in an emergency, the type who pops in on elderly neighbours type person.
In my mind I see an image of Nurse Crane from call the Midwife!!

[user1488397844]

I think it is a compliment! I said earlier I wish I was one of those salt of the earth mothers who just manage about a million things at once & take it in their stride! An elderly man once complimented me by saying "you're a wee diamond, a right wee salt of the earth & they're rare hen" which I thought was lovely but maybe he didn't like me lol! (I am a carer)

[cheeriosatdawn]

Thank you all for posting--hadn't realised anyone had taken the time to until just now. Three cheers for setting one's notifications properly...

Ok. Settling down to read. Just wanted to thank you all first.

[trainedopossum]

There is nothing bad in the phrase or its meaning, but it is quite good for a bit of a sly dig. It means you're decent and unpretentious, but if you take that one step further it could be used to insinuate that you're unsophisticated, socially backward, easily exploited and/or ignorant.

Funny, mensch has a similar meaning but I've never heard it twisted to be a backward compliment (possibly because there is a rich seam of straightforward insults in Yiddish and no cultural disapproval about using them so the compliments don't have to be repurposed).

The meaning is only partly in the actual words. In the southern US there is no more damning thing you can say about someone than 'Bless his/her heart.'

[TheHolidayArmadillo]

It might have positive origins but I wouldn’t want to be called it. People I’ve come across who would call themselves that are massive reverse snobs, “school of hard knocks/university of life” on their Facebook pages who seem to have a massive issue with people wanting to do things that don’t fit the local working class stereotype. Refer to people who live in the new build estate as “settlers”. Think no one works harder than them.

[BrizzleDrizzle]

The Collins dictionary says this:


salt of the earth
phrase [oft verb-link PHRASE]
If you describe someone as the salt of the earth, you have a lot of respect for them as the type of person who deals with difficult or demanding situations without making any unnecessary fuss.
Most of the people there are salt-of-the-earth, good, working-class people.

and this:

salt of the earth in British
a person or group of people regarded as the finest of their kind
salt
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
salt of the earth in American
any person or persons regarded as the finest, noblest, etc.

[DressedCrab]

Never seen it as negative. I'd be chuffed if it was said about me. It gives a warm feeling of someone utterly reliable without guile or pretension.

[Charolais]

Here in the US it is a compliment to be called Salt of the Earth.

[DivisionBelle]

I have never seen negative connotations in Salt of the earth. To me it means really good, genuine, honest, hardworking person. It is a value of character, no class assumptions.

Yes, I would be very happy if someone described me as salt if the earth.

[AreThereAnyUsersnamesLeft]

Everyone loves her but she doesn’t get an invitation to supper parties, wine tasting evenings or drink. She’s a very good cleaner, helps the old ladies, makes teas at the village picnic but knows her place.

How are there not mass shootings by enraged Penny's?

[BrizzleDrizzle]

A bit of a rough diamond, honest, trustworthy but with an edge. Often does voluntary work and can be relied upon but also calls a spade a spade, you know where you stand with them. It's a bit of a double edged sword.

[Temporary2002]

If I said someone were salt of the earth I would mean that the person was an honest, decent, hardworking, say what you mean and do what you say type of person.

[user1497997754]

Someone who was honest, reliable, friendly, warm and not pretentious. Someone ...actually my previous hubby when we were getting divorced said to be don't worry your one of life's survivors. I took that as a compliment but looking back and him knowing about my awful upbringing not sure he meant it that way.

[TheDowagerCuntess]

I would not want to be described as 'salt of the earth', let's just put it that way.

It originated as a compliment. Just as gay originated as happy....

[JanetStWalker]

Crumbs1 said it perfectly.

[Originalfoogirl]

* You would never refer to someone you felt an equal as salt of the earth.*

I'm not sure I would consider someone who is "salt of the earth" as an equal, mainly because it takes a pretty special character to be that kind of person and I don't have that!

....whether someone would want it said about them

I'd think it was a massive compliment.

[Originalfoogirl]

Down to earth, no airs and graces, dependable, kind. The people I know who I've described as "salt of the earth". Have varied from the janitors at my school to the father of an ex boyfriend who owned an oil company and was worth millions. I've never seen it as a snobbish thing.

[Witchend]

It's from the Bible. Early in Matthew, chapter 4 or 5 I think, "You are the salt of the earth..." it goes on to say if salt loses it's saltiness it's useless.

It's definitely a compliment meaning that this person does a lot of quiet useful things. A bit like pillar of the community.

[UsedtobeFeckless]

Feckless ... Ooops.

[UsedtobeFeckless]

I wouldn't mind it being said about me at all! As opposed to lazy, useless, affected ...

[FluffyMcCloud]

I always thought it meant just a proper decent person, like "worth their weight in gold" type phrase. I'd think it was a compliment.

[GingerbreadMa]

"I always thought it was a compliment"
The test of that is whether the person saying it would like it to be said of them...

[Crumbs1]

I am with you. It’s a bit of a snobby patronising compliment. “Penny is the Salt of the earth”, runs the raffle and her husband BBQs whilst everyone else dances and drinks. Everyone loves her but she doesn’t get an invitation to supper parties, wine tasting evenings or drinks. She’s a very good cleaner, helps the old ladies, makes teas at the village picnic but knows her place.
I think it’s a backhanded compliment.

[thewisestoldelf]

I always thought it was a compliment.