Popular Phrases: Origin and Meaning of “Worth One’s Salt”

Everyday we have or hear conversations containing phrases that have been used for many years. Have you ever wondered the origination and meaning of any of these phrases? I have researched the phrase “worth one’s salt” and come up with some information that I would like to share with you. I believe you will find this information interesting and informative.

The phrase “worth one’s salt” began with the ancient Romans. One reference suggested that the origin of the phrase “worth one’s salt” could date back to before 900 B.C. During that time, Roman soldiers were paid for work in salarium, which was an allowance for the purchase of salt. Salt was considered good for human health and was a hard to find commodity. The word soldier, in that era, literally meant ‘one who is paid in salt. The ‘sal’ in the word salarium is Latin for pay. Over the years, the word salarium was shortened and came into the English language as salary. To say that someone is worth his or her salt, you are saying that he or she is worth the wages that he or she earns. One particular reference used a quote from a Human Resources manager who told her supervisor that she had not hired a new administrative assistant because she had not interviewed anyone worth their salt.

In researching the origin of this particular phrase, I found that many references to the word salt are to point out the good of something or someone. Phrases such ‘as salt of the earth’ and ‘salting a mine’ were popular results during my search. Salt has long been a symbol for good things.

Salt is mentioned many times in the bible in reference to either being paid or pointing out the good. Jesus told his disciples that they were the ‘salt of the earth’ during the Sermon on the Mount. In earlier mentions of the bible, Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt. With the many references to salt in the bible, one can only conclude that referring to salt can be describing both positive and negative things.

Whether you think this article is “worth its salt” or you found it a bit salty for your taste, feel free to leave the author comments. This article is just one in a series of articles discussing the origins of popular phrases. If you enjoyed this article, and would like to read more by this author, please click on her name at the top of this page.