above the salt
Meaning: Of high social rank, importance, or honor.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: From the medieval seating arrangement at dining tables where salt was placed in the middle; those seated above the salt were of higher rank and importance.
More idioms — Daily Life
- break the mold — To abandon convention and do something radically new or different.
- hoist by one's own petard — To be harmed or destroyed by one's own trap or scheme meant to injure someone else.
- ace up one's sleeve — A hidden advantage or secret resource kept in reserve to use when needed.
- old fogey — An elderly person with old-fashioned or reactionary views.
- bash into shape — To shape, repair, or train something or someone by vigorous, rough, or direct methods.
- in the same boat — In a shared predicament or situation; facing the same difficulties or circumstances toget…
More English idioms
- break the bank — To win or spend so much money that a casino or financial institution loses its entire ava…
- sleep with the fishes — To be dead, with one's body disposed of in the ocean or a large body of water.
- Augean stables — An extremely filthy, corrupt, or morally decayed place or situation that seems impossible…
- on eternal patrol — Lost or missing at sea, presumed dead.
- play with house money — To take risks when one has nothing personal to lose, or to act recklessly because the sta…
- all mouth and trousers — Full of loud boasting and empty talk, lacking substance or follow-through.
From our untranslatable words
- Blunda — To close your eyes on purpose — and, by extension, to knowingly refuse to see something.
- Fredagsmys — The Friday-night ritual of soft clothes, snacks and television with the people you live w…
- Gökotta — Rising at first light for no reason but to go outside and hear the birds sing.