Worth your salt

Meaning

The idiom "worth your salt" is used to describe someone or something that is reliable, trustworthy, or good quality. The phrase originated from the idea that salt was a valuable commodity in ancient times and only people of high status would be able to afford it. As such, if someone was considered "worth your salt," they were seen as trustworthy and valuable.

"Worth your salt" can be used in two different ways, either as a positive or negative connotation. If someone is "worth their salt," it means that they are reliable and good quality. On the other hand, if someone is not "worth your salt," it means that they are unreliable and of poor quality.

Usage

• I always rely on my boss to get things done, she's worth her salt.
• The new employee didn't prove himself yet, he's not worth his salt.
• The car was a piece of junk, it wasn't even worth its salt price.
• My cousin is an excellent chef, his food is always worth my salt.
• I trust my mechanic completely, he's worth every penny and definitely worth my salt.

Roots and History

The phrase "worth your salt" dates back to ancient times when salt was used as a form of currency and only people of high status could afford it. In the 17th century, Samuel Johnson used the phrase in his dictionary as follows: "A word or speech that is not worth the time of hearing." Over time, the phrase evolved to mean someone who is reliable and trustworthy.

Synonyms in English

• Dependable
• Trustworthy
• Good quality
• Reliable
• Valuable

Synonyms in other languages

• Dependable (Spanish) - Dependiente
• Trustworthy (French) - Fidèle
• Good quality (Italian) - Buono
• Reliable (German) - Zuverlässig
• Valuable (Chinese) - 价值的

Similar Idioms

• white paper

• wine and dine

• when hell freezes over