salt the mine

Definitions

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see salt, the, mine.
2. To set up a confidence trick; to plant false evidence of the value of something.
   broadly

Examples

“He then discovered that Lovell had salted the mine with ore from the Little Pittsburgh.”

“They then salted the “mine” with these gems, which the first expert dug up and brought to San Francisco.”

“Smith had merely dug a shaft, salted the mine with a good grade ore, in order⟳ to lure Jeremiah into purchasing.”

“"Ferraz then salted the mine with the quality diamonds from Angola," Kubu continued, "making it look⟳ as though De Beers had made a mistake⟳."”

“"Yes. I thought it would be a shrewd move⟳ to salt the mine." I didn't get⟳ this. She seemed to me an aunt who was talking in riddles.”

““Salting the mine. We'll salt the mine.” Egan still didn't seem to understand⟳. “You college boys, all that training and you can't see⟳ the nose on your face⟳. We'll plant⟳ a body.””

“Historians are duty bound never to salt the mine of history by the creation of ersatz facts introduced to fulfill their preconceived ideas.”

“His rationale was the same: these were amenities that a salesperson needed to salt the mine and make⟳ the right impression on customers.”

CEFR level