worth my salt

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseapproving

   Good at your job or useful enough to deserve your pay or position.

   Grammar: Used after the verb be: She is worth her salt. It is not used before a noun.

   Patterns

   • be worth your salt
   • not be worth your salt
   • anyone worth their salt

   Any teacher worth her salt knows that students learn in different ways.

   He is not worth his salt if he cannot solve a simple problem like that.

   They hired a lawyer who is worth her salt, and she won the case easily.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Earning one's salary; doing one's fair share of work.

   Grammar: Often used in negative sentences to criticize someone who is lazy or incompetent.

   Patterns

   • be worth your salt
   • not be worth your salt

   If you are not worth your salt, you will soon lose your job.

   The manager is worth his salt and treats everyone fairly.

Common combinations

anyone worth their salt

Anyone worth their salt would have checked the figures twice.

not worth his salt

The plumber was not worth his salt; he left the tap leaking.

worth her salt

She is worth her salt as a nurse; patients trust her.

worth your salt

Are you worth your salt? Then prove it by finishing the task.

Synonyms and how they differ

competent

This is a general adjective for having enough skill; 'worth your salt' is more idiomatic and often suggests you deserve your pay.

capable

This focuses on ability to do something; 'worth your salt' adds the idea of being useful or deserving your position.

Opposites

Commonly confused: worth my salt or salt of the earth?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “worth my salt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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