APAD: The salt of the earth

Meaning:

   People who are described as 'the salt of the earth' are those who are

   considered to be of great worth and reliability.

 

Background:

   The phrase 'the salt of the earth' derives from the Bible, Matthew 5:13 (King

   James Version):

 

     Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,

     wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be

     cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 

   The phrase 'The salt of the earth' - meaning and origin. The positivity

   towards salt in this phrase conflicts with many other uses of the word salt,

   which has also been used express negative concepts; for example, in the

   Middle Ages, salt was spread on land to poison it, as a punishment to

   landowners who had transgressed against society in some way.

 

   It seems that the 'excellent' meaning in 'the salt of the earth' was coined

   in reference to the value of salt. This is reflected in other old phrases

   too, for example, the aristocratic and powerful of the earth were 'above the

   salt' and valued workers were 'worth their salt'.

 

   ...

 

- www.phrases.org.uk

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Many years ago, I heard from the Canadian pastor Mark Hughes: "You are the light

of the world; you are the salt of the earth" in one of his online sermons. The

Bible passage seems to suggest those who are 'the salt of the earth' show strong

Christian values. They are not doormats and their goodness has an edge.

所有跟帖： 

• though relatively small quantities needed, salt is vital -移花接木- ♂ (21 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 10:26:42

• A celebrity chef said once the tastiest (好吃) is salt. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 10:41:20

• Salt is more than tasty, life will stop without salt, all.. -移花接木- ♂ (58 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 11:00:13

• There are many uses and healing powers of salt. -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 10:35:19

• Yes. I'm forever struggling to master dosage in cooking :-) -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 10:44:04

• 适量，少许，若干，几成热，咱中国人做饭没法靠“谱”。haha -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 18:37:37

• Haha, that's a good point and been my excuse, too. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 20:30:38

• agreed. for very fresh produce, one only needs salt to cook -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 12:04:57

• & a bit oil. Maowi the cat is the slat of the earth 4 me ;-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 12:07:59

• Some even argued no need for salt in, say, mash potatoes. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 20:33:00

• I'm sure Maowi appreciates it :-) -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 20:33:48

• Like it. 精英。在这里学会了earth前可以加the -妖妖灵- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 19:36:35

• I read once there's no need for 'the' in front of 'Earth.' -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 20:35:43

• 对，Earth当地球前没有the，但是earth当尘土前面是可以加the吧？ -妖妖灵- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 20:37:20

• Sure, when referring some specific or afore-mentioned earth. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 22:12:28

• They are not doormats and their goodness has an edge.金句！学习了！ -暖冬cool夏- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/09/2024 postreply 21:59:46

• +100086 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 04/10/2024 postreply 10:51:31