Meanings
prepositional phrase
- idiomaticOf high standing or honor.
Synonyms & antonyms
Opposite
Origin
In medieval times, salt (a valuable seasoning) was placed in the middle of a dining table and the lord and his family were seated "above the salt" and other guests or servants below.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
above the salt. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/above%20the%20salt
MLA
“above the salt.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/above%20the%20salt. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “above the salt,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/above%20the%20salt.
Source: above the salt on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.