A fork of Rural Dictionary
something stupid people made up to make themselves feel better about themselves, aka things smart people already know
If you're "book smart" you probably already know everything "street smart" people know.
A common trait for many people, especially males, that usually grew up either in the inner city or hardworking rural environment. Average intelligence, common sense, lack of interest in reading, ability to fix most anything without needing an instruction manual, skill at handling difficult people, and a refreshing lack of personal warmth are typical traits. People who lack street smarts usually grew up or live in the suburbs, work a white collar job, regular churchgoers, stay in their personal protective cocoon, shelter their kids, and hire people to fix their things.
Street Smart
one who is knowledgible at some art of illegal activity. understands the code and conduct held within a certain crime family/ies.
the term came from the common street hoodlum who knows how to succeed in areas that don't necessaryly need a formal education to get ahead in life.
for instance a group(crew) of criminals enterprise at trafficing and selling narcotics. they need some type of illegal practice for processing, smuggling, marketing and laundering money for their underground buisness. since the buisness is illegal, they set rules and regulations to keep the buisness from toppling. in doing so they from a "family" to keep outsiders from interfering and make their own checks and balances within their own "family" inorder to get rid of any potential rogue members; some of the codes that one would hold is that they:
* did not cooperate with authorities
* maintained self-control in the face of adversity
* carried out vendettas to avenge any slight suffering by his family(gang)
* did not forgive or forget
* maintained his demeanor within his ranking in a criminal hierarchy
it could be as petty like knowning how to card a door open, start a car without keys to a professional con-artist, a hit man, loan shark, ect...
carlo gambino had street smarts. that's why he was known in his neighborhood as a wiseguy.
street smart refers to things like learnt outside or formal education or books. It usaly means skills such as fighting well, knowing how to get around large cities, it can also refer to talking smart, knowing how to manipulate people and avoide bad situations. street smart's are the skills you are eith born with or learn through expericance. some people who are street smart are also intelligent but the two do not necerserily go hand in hand.
1. ted did really well in exams but he couldn't find things for shit he wasn't street smart he always got lost.
2. mike was street smart on account of the bar fight he got into when he lived in new york
A phrase dumb people use whenever they want to use the word "smart" to describe themselves.
Dave- Hey, have you read this book?
Mark- Naw man i'm street smart naw book smart.
Dave- You're a fucking dumbass
A phrase used by dumb and/or ignorant people that want to use the word 'smart' to describe themselves. These particular people tend to look down on intelligent people who actually put time and effort into learning to make their lives better. Basically used as an excuse for dumb people who don't value education and pursuing new ideas and don't understand that learning math and language skills give you a big leg up in the world.
"If you spend your life reading books, you aint gonna last in the real world. You gotta be street smart to survive."
"I don't have to learn nothing to survive. I'm street smart."
"I'm not book smart, I'm street smart."
A street smart person usually grew up in a shrewd environment. He/She knows the workings of the mind inside people who are less educated, and knows how to make the correct choices while in their presence.
Eminem, Makai Phipher, Me, Jennifer Lopez and Dave Chappelle are all of examples of people who are street smart.