The word salary is a Latin word from salarium which has a root in sal or salt. In Ancient Rome, salt is very expensive due to its preservative nature. It is said that Roman soldiers were paid with salt as monthly allowance. In that time salt is considered as a token of loyalty or responsibility to the king. If you take salt from someone, you need to be loyal to him. This meaning still exists today. Now it is money that is paid, not the salt. But salt is today a very inexpensive substance. There are so many idioms or sayings that exist today for salt. Their meaning can be derived based on either ancient or modern sense. India, too, have developed some expressions with salt, for instance, Namak Haram (traitor or disloyal), Namak ka haqq ada krna (worth the salt)
Worth your salt: competent, worth of a job, deserving respect
She spends all her energy and time to take the company to the height. She is worth her salt.
Below the salt: low standing in society, low in rank, regard, or repute
Considering one below the salt is a social crime nowadays.
Above the salt: high standing in society, royal, high in rank, regard, repute
Amar, though above the rank, considers no one below the salt.
Salt of the earth: an individual with the noblest characters, the person of highest qualities
He is truly the salt of the earth.
Take with a grain/pinch of salt: taking something not very seriously, accepting with reservation, not completely true.
I have watched that documentary on snake man, but I take it with a grain of salt.
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