Question of the Day #909

He’s salt-of-the-earth crossed with fleur de sel.

From the 2nd paragraph of this article at Vogue.

  上記の文で、salt of the earthの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "salt of the earth" mean?

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Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

《the ～》地の塩、社会の中で最も善良な人

   

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a very good and honest person or group of people

 

語源

英辞郎によると、

【語源】新約聖書「マタイによる福音書」の第5章13節より。イエスの教えに従う者は地の塩のように貴重で価値があり、迫害されたからといってその価値を捨ててはならないという一説から。

 

Etymology

According to The Phrase Finder,

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 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'.

   

Examples

• They were such a lovely couple. They really were the salt of the earth.
• He was the sort of person referred to as salt of the earth: very friendly and straightforward.
• Don't worry, even with all his success, Robert is still the salt of the earth. He donates most of his salary to charity and volunteers weekly at the hospital.
• Frank's mother is the salt of the earth. She has five children of her own and yet fosters three others.
• Everyone else has always thought she was the salt of the earth. - Richard Francis PROSPECT HILL (2003)

   

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