below the salt

English

Etymology

See above the salt.

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

below the salt

1. (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.

Antonyms

• above the salt