Back To the Salt Mines.....
By Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21741)
Canada
April 6, 2016 6:16pm CST
How many times have you heard someone tell you they were heading back to the salt mines? Have you ever used that phrase?
The subject came up after supper tonight. What does that mean? Why do we use that phrase?
Time to use my good friend Google.
Back to the salt mines, refers to getting back to work, usually a task we find onerous or unpleasant. For me, just getting back to work is sufficient.
In Russia prisoners were sent to work in the salt mines in Siberia, not a pleasant task, I'm sure.
So now you know, one more random fact.
28 people like this
31 responses
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
7 Apr 16
I think that there is such a sentence in Spanish too
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
Many idioms are present in other cultures. The Dutch have so many. Some translate really well, and some get lost in the translation.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
8 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt I have studied Latin for 8 years, it was mandatory in Italy when I went to school. At those times I hated this, but now I am glad I studied Latin and I am going through my old books to learn some more.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
9 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt I think that we should have the possibility to go back to school a few weeks a year when we are more mature.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Apr 16
@LadyDuck it is interesting to note how much more we appreciate education as we age.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17240)
• China
7 Apr 16
Good! I learn one more idiom today .I haven't know this idiom before.I have a notebook used for writing down those English idioms.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17240)
• China
8 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt It is true.Furthermore ,I have to make sure whether it has commendatory sense or derogatory sense .
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
Just be careful how you use those idioms. In the wrong setting, the meaning can be totally different.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17712)
• South Africa
7 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt my dad would say it often and I learnt it at an early age - Lets get back to work!
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
@Inlemay my husband said it last. If hit as he prepared to go back to the farm to finish for the night. That is what triggered this post. I wanted a piece of fluff to make up for the post yesterday.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
The three of us discussing the idiom after supper all had the concept of what it meant, the origin was a surprise. You never know what you might learn..
1 person likes this
@Castlerock34 (2255)
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
7 Apr 16
Thank you, I always like learning something new. I never knew that very interesting
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
I always get a kick out of learning some random facts.
2 people like this
@Castlerock34 (2255)
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
7 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt Me too and that was pretty random. I wouldnt mind if someone on here threw out random unknown facts daily, I think that would be fun
1 person likes this
@Castlerock34 (2255)
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
7 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt I know I would really enjoy that :-)
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
So did I. It's always interesting to learn some random facts about expressions and idioms we use regularly.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37391)
• Philippines
7 Apr 16
@Morleyhunt i am lookig now about that barking t the wrong tree :D
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
When you start to research the origins of a phrase or idiom it can lead you in interesting directions.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
You never know when one of those random facts might come in handy.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
I said it even when I'm just returning to the kitchen to clean up after a big meal.
1 person likes this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
7 Apr 16
Unfortunate for me, because I never heard this phrase not until I read your post. Well, its great to know the.meaning of such phrase. Maybe I will use this someday.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
You might have a similar phrase, using a different occupation. Another phrase we use is " keeping your nose to the grindstone"
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
I was aware that it meant getting back to work, but had not known the actual origin of the phrase.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
The phrase was used, the question asked, information locate and a post was born, just like that.
Today's random search probably wouldn't interest anyone here so I won't bother to share.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
Next I'll need to do some reseRch on salt mines. See. It never ends. One question just leads to the next.
1 person likes this
@mypointsju (583)
• Westland, Michigan
7 Apr 16
I heard the phrase before (I never used it myself) and I never heard what it actually meant. Thank you for sharing.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
The things you learn, and sometimes the reasons your curiosity is aroused.
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
7 Apr 16
Thank you, hope i do not get to use that phrase 
1 person likes this
@iamshane487 (1138)
• Manila, Philippines
8 Apr 16
Salt mines! hmm, I will keep this info I've learned today!
@Telynor (1763)
• United States
8 Apr 16
I like your random facts. Salt mining is a dangerous job and one that took plenty of lives, I daresay. Russian salt mines are notorious, as it was usually a life sentence.
