Her neighbours are the salt of the earth.
the salt of the earth
idiomGood, honest, dependable people who lack pretension.
Origin
The phrase comes from the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus tells his followers, "Ye are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). In a world before refrigeration, salt was precious — it preserved food, brought out flavour, and was valuable enough to be traded almost like money.
To call someone the salt of the earth was therefore high praise: they are what keeps the whole from spoiling, quietly essential rather than showy. The verse adds a warning — salt that loses its savour is good for nothing — but the compliment is what English remembered.
Today the phrase honours ordinary, decent, reliable people: not the powerful or fashionable, but the steady sort who do the necessary work without fuss. It carries a warmth that few compliments manage.
The volunteers who ran the shelter were the salt of the earth, asking for nothing in return.
He came from a mining town full of salt-of-the-earth people who worked hard, said little, and would give a stranger their last few pounds without a second thought.
The Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount.
- 01
a wolf in sheep's clothing (idiom)
A dangerous or hostile person who hides behind a harmless, friendly appearance.
- 02
cast the first stone (idiom)
To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing oneself to be blameless.
- 03
go the extra mile (idiom)
To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.
- 04
turn the other cheek (idiom)
To accept punishment or injury without retaliating.
- 05
the blind leading the blind (idiom)
A situation in which someone incompetent is guiding others who are equally incompetent.
- 06
the eye of a needle (idiom)
A standard for something so difficult it is all but impossible to pass or achieve.