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

“For a kid who thought he was this tough street-smart kid from D.C., I was in for a very rude awakening,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Brook, like Stokes and McCullum, is street-smart - hardened by playing in Yorkshire's tough men's leagues by the age of 13 - and rough around the edges.

From BBC

But the mystery adds to the sense that even though Boden and Fleck are pivoting away from Marvel and back to their indie roots, they’ve made a superhero movie, after all: a street-smart update on the Toxic Avenger.

From Los Angeles Times

Mark is taller and brighter than Darren but infinitely more docile and far less street-smart.

From Los Angeles Times

And it’s a brief respite from work — she plays street-smart second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti on ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and is currently on tour performing her comedy show.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hardened