Worth Your Salt
You've heard the expression, "Worth Your Salt" used by itself, or in combination with other words like: "Any man worth their salt," or "Not worth your salt." However you have heard it, did you know what it meant, or where it came from?
ANY MAN WORTH THEIR SALT Centuries ago, salt was so valuable that laborers were paid part of their wages in salt, together with other essentials. This custom is documented in the Old Testament of the Bible (Book of Ezra) in the context of the pay of the Persian King's servants.
NOT WORTH YOUR SALT meant not worth your wages. The Romans served out rations of salt and other provisions to pay soldiers and civil servants. These rations were called by the general name of salt (sal, Latin), and when money was substituted for these rations, the stipend went by the name of salarium (Latin) from which we get the word -salary.






