# university of the streets

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/university-of-the-streets
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of school of hard knocks.

## Examples

- He learned everything he knows at the university of the streets.
- She never finished her degree, but she gained a sharp business sense from the university of the streets.
- While his peers studied theory in lecture halls, he navigated the university of the streets, acquiring a practical wisdom that no textbook could ever provide.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.