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• Queer Street
  Queer Street

  noun

  a condition of financial instability or embarrassment.
• queer street
  queer street

  noun

  (sometimes capitals) a difficult situation, such as debt or bankruptcy (in the phrase in queer street )

Queer Street

American  

noun

1. a condition of financial instability or embarrassment.

   Such extravagance will surely put them in Queer Street.

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queer street British  

noun

1. informal (sometimes capitals) a difficult situation, such as debt or bankruptcy (in the phrase in queer street )

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Etymology

Origin of Queer Street

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Queer Street queer street

He was dumped on the seat of his pants, got up in Queer Street and hung on.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 16, 2012

Francis Quodling has long been in Queer Street; he seemed to think that he had a claim—a natural claim, I might say—on Lord Polperro.

From The Town Traveller by Gissing, George

In a flash I realised my position, and saw that if I was not very careful I should find myself in Queer Street.

From The Childerbridge Mystery by Boothby, Guy Newell

Well, he only hoped the young woman had got some money behind her, otherwise she would be finding herself in Queer Street and he would be whistling for his rent.

From Harvest by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

"A good many of them have their address in Queer Street."

From Thoroughbreds by Fraser, William Alexander

“He is one of the only openly queer street artists in Los Angeles that I’ve encountered and I think it’s really important for visibility that he’d be as ubiquitous as he is,” Dastin said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 8, 2024

Lee had been here before – on queer street against John Jackson and Matt Korobov, each time pulling out a spectacular winning burst for stunning victories.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 19, 2015

It is queer street, a cant phrase, to signify   that it is wrong or different to our wish.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Grose, Francis

Wilson's tackler is said to be i' queer street.

From The Day of Judgment by Hocking, Joseph

It's in a queer street where there are some famous pawn shops, it seems, and I wanted to go into them, but Mr. Brett wouldn't take me.

From Lady Betty Across the Water by Lowell, Orson