word on the street
27
7.8
- idiom
- Informal
:
rumor
- The word on the street is that a new restaurant will open downtown next month.
- word on the street says
- know what the word on the street is
- get the word on the street
Well, that's, that's the that's the word on the street.
- Well, that's, that's the that's the word on the street.
- So you know, we, we hear Jonathan, like there's this word on the street that plant based protein is less bioavailable than animal based protein.
- Yeah, which I've I've heard word on, word on the street is you like a little party anyway.
- There was one guy I remember that I dated and I his nickname was Big D because he, like, word on the street is he had a big D, Right?
Examples
-
I grew up in the Bay and the word on the street is that Steve Young was the fastest guy on the team.
-
Word on the street is that they're back together and working things out.
Blog text (30) -
Now, then, the word on the street is The Individual is coming to town.
-
I keep an ear open for word on the street, and it's all good.
Fiction book (1994) -
What's the word on the street?
-
Word on the street is that all languages are evolving towards each other.
Blog text (7) -
Well, that's the word on the street.
-
Will: So, the word on the street is you're from New York.
Academic text (2010) -
'Cause the word on the street is that you're drowning.
-
The word on the street is that the formal NIH/FDA studies will be released shortly.
Blog text (13)
Synonyms
868
3.2
Informal conversation about other people that may not be true
184
1.1
Informal talk about other people's private lives, often with rumors
28
7.0
Rumors told by other people that may not be true
27
3.5
Rumor spread by people talking rather than by officials
11
8.8
Rumor or gossip, often not confirmed and shared informally
7
4.5
A group or network that spreads gossip and stories not checked for truth
1
1.9
The most recent private news or rumors about people
An informal way people pass news and rumors by talking
A way news or rumors spread quickly among people
Rumors people tell that are not proven true
Antonyms
How Public
- Informal
27
7.8
26
2.6
- US
74
3.9
- Informal
184
1.1
586
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase's meaning (informal rumor or what people are saying) is partially inferable because 'word' can be used figuratively for 'news' or 'information' and 'on the street' suggests among ordinary people; however, this figurative combination is not fully predictable from the literal meanings. Cross-linguistic parallels (e.g., expressions meaning 'they say in the street') make it somewhat guessable, but many B1 learners would need exposure to confirm the idiomatic sense.
Etymology
Word on the street comes from the picture of a word moving along a street as people meet and tell each other news. So, it means 'what people are saying' or an informal rumor.