Where and how did the phrase 'worth one's salt' originate?
365999
Salt was a very important commodity in ancient times.  In fact, Roman soldiers were actually paid in salt, not money.  That's also how we get the word "salary."  So if you weren't "worth your salt," it meant that you weren't earning your pay.
1004137
We would say "pinch, poke..you owe me a coke"\nI imagine it originated in some play ground somewhere....obviously after coke originated
570776
Origins of the word JEWEL\n\nc.1290, "article of value used for adornment," Anglo-Fr. juel, O.Fr. juel, jouel "ornament, jewel" (12c.), perhaps from M.L. jocale, from L. jocus "pastime, sport," in V.L. "that which causes joy" (see joke). Another theory traces it to L. gaudium, also with a notion of "rejoice." Sense of "precious stone" developed early 14c.
33251
Salt is a mineral, and probably is present everywhere in the world. I've heard that Native Americans traded salt among themselves long before we came here.
79395
actually this question was AOL's home page the other day I believe. The saying came from the horse racing track. People would offer a tip and a horse that would win and if was an insider ( jockey, trainer, ect)  or reliable tip they would say it came "straight from the horses mouth"
1003483
"Salt" used to be one of the most precious commodities in the world, because it could be used for anything like curing meat and adding taste.  Thus, "salt of the earth" means something very valuable and useful on the earth.
627130
This expression originated in the United States in about 1900. The phrase may have some Latin connection. When a Roman boy was in trouble, he cried ‘patrue mi Patruissime’ (‘Uncle my best of uncles’).
21646
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE -- From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (1996): "Between a rock and a hard place. Forced to choose between two unpleasant options. The expression originated in the early twentieth century in the United States. It usually follows 'to be caught'." \n\nThe "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Fact on File, New York, 1997) says "the expression was probably born in Arizona during a financial panic early in this century."
818829
Scientific theories behind the origins of sea salt started with Sir Edmond Halley in 1715, who proposed that salt and other minerals were carried into the sea by rivers, having been leached out of the ground by rainfall runoff. Upon reaching the ocean, these salts would be retained and concentrated as the process of evaporation (see Hydrologic cycle) removed the water. Halley noted that of the small number of lakes in the world without ocean outlets (such as the Dead Sea and the Caspian Sea, see endorheic basin), most have high salt content. Halley termed this process "continental weathering".
748404
On the rim of a £2 coin, it's a quote from Isaac Newton.\n\n (He's saying that he couldn't have got to be the great scientist that he was without having the work of other scientists before him to work with) \n\nWikipedia will tell you that it has been "mistakenly" attributed to Isaac Newton - but although it has been used by other people before him - the quote is most famous for Newton's use.
257210
one day a man ask a genie for everlasting salt from a big saltshaker b/c his family was poor and he planned to sell it. then when he was going home in his boat and got raided by PIRATES! then pirates stole the salt shaker and the man threw a grenade at the boat and BLEW it up! then the salt shaker was shaking  out salt in the middle of the ocean! And thats y its salty. Hope u enjoyed!!! : )
1012546
(With) a grain of salt is a literal translation of a Latin phrase, (cum) grano salis. A pinch of salt may also be used.\n\nThe phrase comes from Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia, regarding the discovery of a recipe for an antidote to a poison. In the antidote, one of the ingredients was a grain of salt. Threats involving the poison were thus to be taken "with a grain of salt" and therefore less seriously. In reality, salt is not an antidote to any poison.\nIn common parlance, if something is to be taken with a grain of salt, it means that a measure of healthy skepticism should be applied regarding a claim; that it should not be blindly accepted and believed without any doubt or reservation. According to the Oxford English Dictionary 'to take 'it' with a grain of salt' means 'to accept a thing less than fully'. It dates this usage back to 1647.
330515
I'm not sure if the origin is roman catholic, but this sounds like what you're looking for:\n\nButter, salt, horseradish, sausage, pascha, candle, ham, eggs, bacon, cheese\n\nThe meanings are described in detail in the source link.
671615
it comes from the fruit "baneberry" which was a poisonous fruit given to enemies in old England.\nThe actual expression is "bane of my life", meaning "he will be the death of me.
463172
The quote you are thinking of is probably "standing on the shoulders of giants" which was used by Sir Isaac Newton in a letter to Robert Hooke. He said "If I have seen further it was by standing on the shoulder of giants". Incidentally, the phrase is etched onto the side of the 2 pound coin in the United Kingdom.
432908
It`s origind date back to the 17th Century and is related to the latin phrase "Quid pro quo" which roughly translated means something given in return for something of equal value, and this is what generaly happens when you pay with money.
828161
Salt is a seasoning that makes bitter things taste better. So to take something with a pinch of salt means to ignore the bitterness of that something