street smarts

American  

plural noun

Informal.

1. shrewd awareness of how to survive or succeed in any situation, especially as a result of living or working in a difficult environment, as a city ghetto neighborhood.

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Etymology

Origin of street smarts

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

It made me realize that I had book knowledge in a situation that demanded street smarts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The camp, Mistro said, has taught them an essential skill: “Just like street smarts, we want them to have ocean smarts.”

From Los Angeles Times

“He has street smarts and is very populist.”

From Los Angeles Times

It appears that, like many who end up in the big city, some fence lizards develop street smarts.

From Los Angeles Times

School was a struggle, and this was a chance to show that his street smarts more than made up for it.

From Literature