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Citation Information
How to Cite
Schur, Norman W., Revised by Eugene Ehrlich. "above the salt." Writer's Reference Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 18 Apr. 2025. <http://fofweb.infobase.com/wrc/Detail.aspx?iPin=BEAZ00005>.
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above the salt

American English Equivalent
see comment

Definition 
Long ago, when the family saltcellar among the powerful and wealthy was a massive silver container, it was placed in the middle of the dining table and marked the boundary between the classes when people dined together. Those seated above the salt were members of the higher classes, the family and their peers; those below the salt were seated among the inferior guests. Today, of course, these terms are used only metaphorically. At a banquet or formal dinner, however, to sit above the salt is to sit in a position of distinction.

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