salt-of-the-earth

Genuine, unpretentious people

Salt-of-the-earth describes honest, unpretentious, fundamentally decent people—the kind who form the backbone of a community.

The phrase comes from the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls his followers "the salt of the earth." It suggests someone reliable and genuine rather than flashy or ambitious: My grandfather was a salt-of-the-earth farmer who never missed a day's work.

character

humble

Unassuming about oneself

honestFree from deception
hardworkingCommitted to sustained effort
decentAcceptably good

unpretentious · genuine · reliable · steadfast · trustworthy · wholesome · sincere · good-hearted · unassuming · backbone

community

neighbor

Person living nearby

townsfolkResidents of a village
villagerRural community inhabitant
congregationAssembled group of worshippers

parishioner · volunteer · everyman · commoner · working-class · heartland · grassroots · folk · commonfolk · ordinary

occupation

farmer

One who cultivates land

laborerPhysical task performer
craftsmanSkilled manual worker
tradespersonSkilled manual laborer

fisherman · miner · rancher · carpenter · blacksmith · steelworker · dockworker · homesteader · shepherd · farmhand

Categories

homespunfolksy, homey, rustic, homestyle, countrified
blue-collarblue collar, blue-collar, laborer, factory worker, construction worker

Opposites

social pretension and class affectation

salt-of-the-earthpretentious

Falsely grand or important

snob · phony · affected · snobbish · stuck-up

moral character and integrity

salt-of-the-earthscoundrel

Dishonest, unscrupulous person

rotten · lowlife · bad egg · charlatan · phony

social class and elitism

salt-of-the-earthelitist

One favoring the privileged

snob · pretentious · highfalutin · hoity-toity · snooty

Family

salt, earth, salty, salted, salting, salts, saltiness, earthy, earthly

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G