Man on the Street

What Does "Man on the Street" Mean?

"Man on the street" is an English idiom. It means "similar to 'man in the street', it refers to an average or ordinary person."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "man on the street" used in a sentence:

• The opinion of the man on the street is often overlooked in political discussions.
• We asked the man on the street what they thought about the new policy.
• The show focuses on the views of the man on the street.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Man on the Street" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "man on the street" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions