do you know what these idiomatic expresions mean?

Question

"not worth one's salt"
"the salt of the earth"
"take with the grain of salt"
can you help me give the meaning of the idioms above? this is for my homework. please help me. thanks a lot for those who'll help;)

Answer 1

1. Someone who is not worth very much (our bodies have a lot of water, but very little salt in them).

2. Someone who is very natural, down-to-earth.

3. To maintain a healthy skepticism, or to tend to doubt something, as in "because she tends to lie, I take what she says with a grain of salt."

Answer 2

"not worth one's salt"
if people worked to earn salt.... this person would not be worth giving any salt to.
Think of the salt as a days wages. They aren't worth the price of the salt. Which is a minimal amount.
It is another way of saying
'This person is worthless.'
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"the salt of the earth"

salt of the earth
A person or group considered as the best or noblest part of society. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/salt

Salt is the substance that holds the world together chemically. Salt draws the water which makes life on earth possible. Without salt all on earth would die. The liquid in your body is 0.9%saline (salt).
It means a very important substance, group, leadership, and can be used many ways in that context.
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"take with the grain of salt"
If someone is 'sweet talking' you, you should take it with a grain of salt. It means to balance the sweet with a little salt. In other words, dont take what is happening, or what is being said too seriously because it out of balance. You need to balance it with some salt.

Answer 3

"Not worth one's salt" means not worth very much, not very good at something.

"The salt of the earth" means that a person is a good solid helpful practical person, down to earth and helpful to everyone.

"Take with the grain of salt" means you were told something that you probably shouldn't believe exactly as it was told to you.

Answer 4

If something said can be taken with a grain of salt is like...don't worry about it too much because salt is small and fine, 1 grain isn't visible to the naked eye...what was said means nothing of importance...

Answer 5

Homework help for 10 points..Okay?

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1) He is hopeless or unreliable

2) He is the pillar of the society (noble)

3) do not believe everything you read,hear or see. (balance positive with the negative)