on the street

on the street idiom
    Also, in the street.
  1. Without a job, unemployed, as in After they fired her she was on the street for two years. [First half of 1900s]
  2. Without a regular place of residence, homeless, as in It's terrible to be on the street in winter. [Mid-1800s]
  3. Released from prison, as in One more year and he'll be back in the street. [First half of 1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.