Word on the Street

What Does "Word on the Street" Mean?

"Word on the street" is an English idiom. It means "common knowledge, rumors, or opinions circulating among people, especially within a community or social group."

Examples in Sentences

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

• The word on the street is that there will be significant changes in company leadership.
• She wanted to know the word on the street regarding the upcoming election.
• The word on the street suggested that a new restaurant had opened in the neighbourhood.

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 "Word 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 "word on the street" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions