Friend called me "salt of the earth" - compliment or not?

[ruthyrubie1029]

I always thought it was patronising but said in a nice way??

[quote FAQs]@veeeeh I agree.

I did call a work colleague, lives in a huge manor, very well spoken, total snob, actually has the queens cast off cars, we get on really well but are total opposites, (he calls my area of London long overdue to be gentrified), salt of the earth once, he tinkly laughed and replied “well yes indeed” [/quote]
That's lovely, but come on, he sounds like a typical impoverished idiot, but can cover it up with the Qs cast off cars and an inheritance tax bill. Sorry, just saying!

Class is anything below Watford Gap imv. LOL. That is just awful and so dependable for those who think they are better than others, just because.

Probably sitting around a candle in delightful enjoyment of their pile.

@veeeeh ha, yes that’s not far off actually!

Salt of the earth does not mean that. It means honest , kind, hard working and trustworthy. That applies to any class Rethinking maybe it's has w.c connections as it is usually the lower that supports the upper class.
I'm w.c so take it as a compliment from other w.c folk.
If a m.c person uses it with me I'll tap them on the nose with my rough knuckles..

[quote FAQs]@veeeeh ha, yes that’s not far off actually![/quote]
LOL.

No one will be better than me! But I would never tell anyone they are beneath me. There is a difference and it doesn't come down to wealth either.

Maybe full of yourself would have been better

@LowlandLucky

Maybe full of yourself would have been better

Ah now come on, that is not what Salt of the Earth means at all.

It will always be a great compliment to me. Wish someone would say it to me lol.

Dh, from east Belfast, says he reckons 'dead on'. Being dead on is a good thing.

@eggandonion One of my good friends from Belfast uses dead on too.
Are things good? "Aye I'm dead on so I am"

I would take that as a compliment. It means genuine, down to earth, honest, solid and reliable. All good things!

It was definitely a compliment but I don’t know if it would be a compliment I’d be entirely happy to receive. I think it’s something you think about someone but you don’t tell them.

Where I’m from it’s much like Stitchy said...a patronising thing said by middle class people to working class people to “keep them in their place”

OR

A reverse snobbery thing said between working class people to show they are of the same ilk. So it’s a compliment if two working class people say it about each other, but a bit of an insult for someone who is middle class to say it to someone working class.

It’s not something I’d ever say to anyone! I’d feel as though I was being extremely patronising!

It’s not something I’d ever say to anyone! I’d feel as though I was being extremely patronising!

Exactly - it’s not something I’d ever say to someone, as there’s a high chance they might be insulted! And yes, it just feels so patronising.

Clearly, reading between the lines, it was meant as a compliment in the case of the OP.

This is one of the times I am glad I don't live in the UK!!! It simply means the person is honest, trustworthy, reliable - the sort of person we should aspire to be. It is used quite often here, and always as a compliment. Fortunately we don't have all this rubbish class talk here, so people take it for the compliment it is.

@eaglejulesk

This is one of the times I am glad I don't live in the UK!!! It simply means the person is honest, trustworthy, reliable - the sort of person we should aspire to be. It is used quite often here, and always as a compliment. Fortunately we don't have all this rubbish class talk here, so people take it for the compliment it is.

Perfectly put.

Class is just a ridiculous concept in UK, but they seem to love looking down their noses at others.

Like you am glad I don't live there, sorry fellow MNs I know you are all generally fine re class stuff! But there are always aspirants just the same.

I would use it about people with a good work ethic and moral compass

It’s a massive compliment

First entry on Google says that, "People who are described as 'the salt of the earth' are those who are considered to be of great worth and reliability."

Take it OP.

Compliment it means your a diamond.

I think everyone wants to be given a Frogmore Cottage. The staff will be salt of the earth anyway.

LOL.

The rest of us just keep on going on right? The class thing is rife in uk and always will be. The divine right of Kings and Queens I suspect.

A compliment, the opposite to "scum of the earth". I had no idea people saw it as patronising.

The very fact that some might think it is directed at those below them somehow, really makes me sad that there is such classism in UK.

I don't think it is evident anywhere else really.

But if it is, educate me please.

Compliment. X

I think that so many people here agree that it’s a compliment that you can probably trust that it was meant well. However, my friend did once say this about my ex’s mum and I took it to mean that she was simple, humble and unpretentious and I did think it sounded a bit patronising, a bit like saying she was unrefined, so do I get why you are asking. But if a good friend is saying it, I’d say they must like you enough to mean it in a complimentary way.

I don't think it is evident anywhere else really.

But if it is, educate me please.

I think you’ll find it is! The US - with the Upper East Side types / Mayflower descendants, and then the ‘trailer trash’?

India, with the caste system?

I’m not in the UK, but there are absolutely social classes here where I am too, and in our neighbouring country, for sure!

It’s very naive to think class is the preserve of the Brits.

If you think, for example, the likes of Ivanka Trump would go within a barge pole of the average Trump supporter (to illustrate the two perceived extremes in another country), you’re deluded....

And yes, I’m sure she glad-handed them at his rallies, but then would’ve sanitised herself for an hour afterwards, and would never actually socialise with such people.