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Mitsuo23 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
"on the street" Is this idiom?
Hi,
I have a question in the sentence below, which I have quoted from a book.
After a job was finished, we'd stand on the street drinking beer or foul-tasting Gatorade.
Since the story is taking place in New York, I am wondering if "on the street" has an idiomatic meaning. I've been there and think drinking in a public space was illegal.
Thank you,
M
I have a question in the sentence below, which I have quoted from a book.
After a job was finished, we'd stand on the street drinking beer or foul-tasting Gatorade.
Since the story is taking place in New York, I am wondering if "on the street" has an idiomatic meaning. I've been there and think drinking in a public space was illegal.
Thank you,
M
Top answer
mitsuwao23 Since the story is taking place in New York, I am wondering if "on the street" has an idiomatic meaning. I've been there and think drinking in a public space was illegal. No, it is literal.
- mitsuwao23 Since the story is taking place in New York, I am wondering if "on the street" has an idiomatic meaning.
- I've been there and think drinking in a public space was illegal.
- No, it is literal.
- As far as I know, there is no law prohibiting drinking in New York.
- There are laws against obnoxious behavior ("disorderly conduct") and underage drinking.
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6 Answers
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mitsuwao23No, it is literal. As far as I know, there is no law prohibiting drinking in New York. There are laws against obnoxious behavior ("disorderly conduct") and underage drinking.
Since the story is taking place in New York, I am wondering if "on the street" has an idiomatic meaning. I've been there and think drinking in a public space was illegal.
00
It's an idiom, but not for your context. On the street/streets means not in a house/building or without a home.
Hobos living on the streets.
Let's just put him out on the streets.
Hobos living on the streets.
Let's just put him out on the streets.
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mitsuwao23After a job was finished, we'd stand on the street drinking beer or foul-tasting Gatorade.No. It's not an idiom, but "street" means "sidewalk" here, not the part where cars travel.
CJ
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There is also another meaning to this. In the US prison system, this means "outside of prison."
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