below the salt
English edit
Etymology edit
See above the salt.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Prepositional phrase edit
- (idiomatic) Common, vulgar; of low standing.
- 1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC:
- His fashion is not to take knowledge of him that is beneath him in clothes. He never drinks below the salt.