# salt away

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/salt-away
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- I try to salt away a little money every month.
- She worked two jobs for years to salt away enough savings for her daughter's university tuition.
- By choosing to live frugally throughout his career, he managed to salt away a significant fortune for his eventual retirement.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.