English Reference
Idiom idiom

salt away


To save or preserve (especially money) for future use.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I try to salt away a little money every month.

CONTEXTUAL

She worked two jobs for years to salt away enough savings for her daughter's university tuition.

COMPLEX

By choosing to live frugally throughout his career, he managed to salt away a significant fortune for his eventual retirement.


Derived from the practice of preserving food in salt for future use, the expression alludes to the method of curing meat or fish to ensure its survival through leaner periods.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    Attic salt

    Pointed and delicate wit.

  2. 02

    away game

    An athletic contest played away from the team's home field.

  3. 03

    away with the fairies

    Not all there; slightly crazy.

  4. 04

    bang away

    to strike or hit repeatedly

  5. 05

    bear away the bell

    To be superior in something.

  6. 06

    beaver away

    To work hard at a task.

  7. 07

    blaze away

    To fire (firearms) repeatedly.

  8. 08

    blow away

    To kill (someone) by shooting them with a firearm.

Last updated August 10, 2026