worth one's salt

worth one's salt  {adj. phr.}

Быть хорошим работником или продуктивным человеком; стоить своих денег.

Mr. Brown showed that he was worth his salt as a salesman when he got the highest sales record for the year.

- Часто используется с "not" или "hardly".

When the basketball team did so poorly, people felt that the coach was hardly worth his salt.

Ср.: PAY ONE'S WAY (2).