Crossword Genius

Save sailor from taking a course (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

salt away

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'save' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'sailor from taking a course' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'salt' (salt is a kind of sailor).
'from' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'taking a course' becomes 'away' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'salt'+'away'='SALT AWAY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for salt away that I've seen before include "Save" , "bank" , "Store" , "set aside" , "principle of low-sodium diet?" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app