Thursday May 24, 2007
Salty language
By ELLEN WHYTE
SALT helps regulate our body water content, and brings out the flavour of the food we eat. Unfortunately, too much of it leads to hypertension, heart attacks and other problems.
While your doctor may tell you to ease up on the salt in your food, there’s no danger of overdosing with these salty expressions.
To take something with a pinch of salt
To treat a statement or proposition sceptically, or with suspicion and reservation.
The origin of this phrase is obscure. Some believe it refers to Mithridates the Great who foiled his murderous relatives by drinking a cupful of toxins every day, thereby making himself immune from poison. When Roman writers described the king’s ploy, they noted he also added a pinch of salt. Mediaeval readers thought this was a code phrase meaning the story was untrue. However, modern historians say Mithridates did drink his poisoned cup, and speculate he added salt simply to improve the taste.
Example: When Wong talks about his life in Hollywood, you should take his stories with a pinch of salt.
Salt of the earth
Someone or a group of people who are considered to be the best type of people.
This biblical expression from the Gospel of Matthew refers to the high value placed on salt in the Middle East in Jesus’ time. Salt was expensive, an excellent preservative, and highly prized for the way it brings out the flavour in bland food. In those times, salt was sacrificed to the gods, and it was commonly held that guests who had eaten their host’s salt (i.e. food) were obligated to him or her.
This idea lies behind the Middle Eastern expression “There is salt between us.”
Example: Although Justin might not dress well, he’s the salt of the earth.
Salty (language)
Witty or earthy chat that can border on rude or crude language.
References to salty language have been made since 1573. Some believe there is a connection between this phrase and the expression old salt meaning an experienced sailor. The notion is that sailors were known for their foul language, possibly a result of working for months in an exclusively macho environment. However, dictionaries reveal sailors were first called salts around 1840, and this was clearly a reference to the salinity of the sea, not to bad language.
Example: After John had had a few beers, his anecdotes became more and more salty.
To rub salt into the wound
To make a bad situation worse.
In ancient times, salt was often part of ritual sacrifices as it was considered to have magical and spiritual properties. Believing it to have powerful magic, doctors working in pre-antibiotic days would sprinkle wounds with salt in the hope of fighting off infection. But as salt has a rather nasty sting, even on tiny wounds like paper cuts, the treatment could be quite painful!
Example: Henry hated losing at tennis, but having to present the trophy to Lucy afterwards was just rubbing salt into the wound.
To be worth one’s salt
To be efficient, capable or good at your job.
The source of this expression is disputed. Some say it dates back to Roman days when wages were paid partly in salt, and that this led to the word salary. Others say that the word salary comes from salarium, the wages paid to Roman workers so that they could buy their own salt. Still others contest that the salarium was actually an official salt ration, and that when money replaced the goods themselves, the word salary survived. Whichever tale is true, the principal point is that good workers are valuable!
Example: A politician worth his salt can hold his own in a debate.
Sit below the salt
To be of a low social rank.
This phrase, first seen in print around 1597, comes from European dining halls where the host sat at the head of the dining table, and his guests were seated in order of importance along the sides. The salt cellar was placed in the middle of a dining table, which caused another division. Those seated below this point were considered the lowest ranking people at the table. Funnily enough, few references are made to sitting above the salt!
Example: When Jane was an MP, she was an honoured guest but these days she sits below the salt with the rest of us.
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