man in the street

noun

1. the ordinary person; the average citizen:

   the political opinions of the man in the street.

man in the street

noun

1. the typical or ordinary person, esp as a hypothetical unit in statistics

Word History and Origins

Origin of man in the street¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Idioms and Phrases

Also, woman in the street . An ordinary, average person, as in It will be interesting to see how the man in the street will answer that question . This expression came into use in the early 1800s when the votes of ordinary citizens began to influence public affairs. Today it is used especially in the news media, where reporters seek out the views of bystanders at noteworthy events, and by pollsters who try to predict the outcome of elections.

Example Sentences

The man-in-the-street is not easily persuaded that the basis of the comic is, not uncommon nonsense, but glorified common-sense.

From Project Gutenberg

Far too long has the man-in-the-street been encouraged in an attitude of scorn for the efforts of the Twenty-three.

From Project Gutenberg

In European countries, however democratic, the man-in-the-street has rarely any immediate authority over Foreign Affairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Like the man-in-the-street, Montaigne found refuge from reason in conviction.

From Project Gutenberg