street fighter
- noun
- /strit ˈfaɪtər/
:
luchador agresivo
- His reputation as a street fighter grew after he outmaneuvered competitors to win the top position.
Examples
-
In the boardroom, she proved herself to be a real street fighter, using aggressive tactics to secure the deal.
-
My dad was so strong, but was Street Fighter, you know, was fighting at the street, at the bar, bar everywhere.
-
The manager was known as a street fighter, often employing underhanded methods to get ahead in his career.
Synonyms
682
2.8
A person who fights for a cause or as a job
244
4.9
A violent person who attacks or threatens others
9
8.3
A person who acts very tough and reckless in arguments or fights
8
6.2
A person who fights roughly in places like bars
6
7.9
A person who gets into fights and does not back down
1
7.9
A fighter who hits opponents very hard, often a boxer
1
7.5
A person who is very strong and tough, like a boxer or a team defender
A young person who is violent and often breaks the law
A person who uses violence or threats to frighten others
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is largely compositional: a B1 learner who knows 'street' and 'fighter' will infer a person who fights in street contexts or is rough/aggressive, so the core meaning is accessible. However, the additional nuance of being willing to use underhanded or unscrupulous methods is pragmatic/pejorative and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Street fighter comes from the idea of a person from the street who will do whatever it takes to win, even using 'dirty' or unfair methods. That's why it now describes a very aggressive person who uses rough or unfair ways in fights or competitions.