Editing Salt mining (section)

== Idiomatic use ==
In slang, the term {{Em|salt mines}}, and especially the phrase {{Em|back to the salt mines}}, refers ironically to one's workplace, or a dull or tedious task. This phrase originates from {{Circa|1800}} in reference to the Russian practice of sending prisoners to [[Unfree labour|forced labor]] in Siberian salt mines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/back-to-the-salt-mines|title=Definition of back to the salt mines |website=www.dictionary.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-12|archive-date=2020-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112073049/https://www.dictionary.com/browse/back-to-the-salt-mines|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/the-salt-mines-really/22927|title=The Salt Mines. Really??|last=Houston|first=Natalie|date=2010-01-25|website=The Chronicle of Higher Education Blogs: ProfHacker|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-12|archive-date=2020-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112073052/https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/the-salt-mines-really/22927|url-status=live}}</ref>