above the salt

Questions

What does above the salt mean?

Of high standing or honor.

Where does above the salt come from?

In medieval times, salt (a valuable seasoning) was placed in the middle of a dining table and the lord and his family were seated "above the salt" and other guests or servants below.

How to pronounce above the salt

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “above the salt”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “above the salt”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “above the salt” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.