"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?

[Vitalogy]

I'd stay away from that acquaintance if possible, it's doing you no good by the sounds of it.
Personally, I think salt of the earth would be a complement. Reminds me of one of Paddy Mcguinness's sayings from Peter Kay's Max and Paddy's Road To Nowhere.

[AccidentallyRunToWindsor]

My connotation of that would've someone who is 'common' or 'rough'

[PuppyMonkey]

Have just had to go off and check the definition too as I also thought it was a compliment. Your snobby friend may be horrid usually but probably wasn't feigning the deep hurt and surprise at you thinking she was slagging the woman off tbh.

[gingergenius]

Means someone of great worth. From biblical times when salt was rare and expensive and used as a form of currency (the word salary is also derived from the word salt because people of value were paid in regular quantities of salt which was pricy and highly valued)

www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/salt-of-the-earth.html

[IrritatedUser1960]

Well I always thought it was a hardworking, completely down to earth person not really relating to any class.
noun
1.
an individual or group considered as representative of the best or noblest elements of society.

Given how precious salt was in times gone by.

[KatherinaMinola]

Yes, it's of Biblical origin but often used in the pejorative way you describe, OP. So I'd think the same as you.

[yasmin05]

I think of it as a positive description like the essence of kindness or goodness. Salt is often associated with something that gives meaning, significance or importance without which something is useless.

[Aridane]

An English phrase referring to a person who is thoroughly decent

Wikipedia

[TheVanguardSix]

It's what Jesus tells his followers, the fishermen. If it came from Jesus, it must have been the highest of compliments!

Referring to the OP, there's always some idiot who must make EVERY bloody thing about what stratum of society a person is from/of.

[Thesmallthings]

I always thought of it as describing some one you couldn't live / funication with out I.e they do alot for people are nice kind etc

[UsedtobeFeckless]

I think it's a compliment. Sound, honest, kind, reliable, no-frills sort of person. I have heard it used to describe middle-class people, too ...

[kaytee87]

I've always taken it to mean hard working, genuine, honest and working class. Maybe an old fashioned saying but I think it is meant as a compliment. I suppose it could come across as patronising from someone of a higher class but it's not an insult.

[KERALA1]

Of course it's snobby! You would never refer to someone you felt an equal as salt of the earth. It's said by middle and upper class people as code for working class but decent.

[PrincessoftheSea]

I have always thought it meant someone rough around the edges, but decent, no frills.

[KeepServingTheDrinks]

I only know it in the context that a posh(er) [or thinks they are] person would say to someone or about someone with a lower social standing. i.e. in what would be described as 'blue collar' worker.
I think it's an insult because what it basically says (to me) is "you're a decent person, and this is rare of someone of your class".

My DH (v working class and proud) uses it to describe characters in Ken Loach films. My DH does not like Ken Loach films.

[GingerbreadMa]

People who arent poor use it about people who they think are happily poor and wouldnt want a payrise if it was offered to them, which its not. Becausr theyre happy with their lot and LOVE being in service because the work gives their life meaning

[MortalEnemy]

Of course it’s Biblical (Matthew?) and originally highly complimentary — look how highly the Romans valued salt, to the extent that wages were paid in it, and our term ‘salary’ derives from their ‘salarium’ — but it has acquired definite class connotations in modern usage, at least in the UK.

[MortalEnemy]

Yes, Ginger, exactly.

[Spartaca]

It means all good stuff, but I would feel the same OP. There is something condescending in its use sometimes

[Spartaca]

It means all good stuff, but I would feel the same OP. There is something condescending in its use sometimes

[PricillaQueenOfTheDesert]

My interpretation is Honest, hardworking, reliable.
I just asked DH and he said it’s a compliment for honest, hardworking and reliable common people because he wouldn’t use it on a royal.

[Jerseysilkvelour]

A fisherman. With a high necked knitted jumper and a pipe. That's what salt of the earth brings to mind for me every time.

Sometimes it's not what is said but the way it's said- sounds like this applies here!

[GingerbreadMa]

My interpretation is Honest, hardworking,
"I just asked DH and he said it’s a compliment for honest, hardworking and reliable common people because he wouldn’t use it on a royal."

So hardworking but not important enough to be paid well, being complimented ocassionally by better paid people is all the reward they need for their work...

[OneInAMillionYou]

As others, I agree it was originally highly complimentary at its source in the Bible.
However, usage over centuries has tinged it with a class laden undertone. Someone up thread said you could never imagine it being said about a member of the aristocracy.

See also 'above the salt' and 'below the salt' referring to class divisions.

[mermaidinmycoffeecup]

I would say it means down to earth,honest and decent.