ENGLISH
REFERENCE

on the street

prep. phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

prep. phr.. living without a home or working outside in public areas; it can also mean what people are saying in public.

prep. phr.. a prepositional phrase indicating a state of homelessness, a location of informal economic activity, or a source of public opinion and rumor.


SIMPLE

He spent three years living on the street.

CONTEXTUAL

Word on the street is that the company is planning to close its local branch next month.

COMPLEX

The charity provides essential medical services to those living on the street who lack access to traditional healthcare facilities.

Usage

often used in the singular to describe the general environment of public life or homelessness.

Teaching tip

distinguish between the literal physical location 'in the street' (on the road surface) and the idiomatic 'on the street' (homeless or public rumor).

Pitfall

He is living in the street.He is living on the street.while 'in the street' refers to the physical road, 'on the street' is the standard idiom for being homeless.

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