street-smart

[ street-smahrt ]

adjective

1. possessing or showing street smarts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of street-smart¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

His protagonists are smart, street smart, shrewd, skillful or some combination of those qualities as a rule.

From New York Times

How then do we balance our social need for a certain degree of mutually presumed integrity with a self-preserving requirement for some street smart skepticism of Greeks bearing gifts?

From Salon

The deeply caring Tess is a perfect victim, but she’s also street smart, and her soft skills and ability to read others are the most effective powers for fighting the evil she encounters.

From Los Angeles Times

The breed is known for not being "street smart" since they trust strangers and love to chase anything that moves, including vehicles.

From Salon

Uncle Charlie dispenses his street smart wisdom — "the male sciences" he calls it — to teach JR how to be a man.

From Salon