A trait that helps one cope with the everyday person or situation in the Ghetto and ALSO in personal life and business. A people person. One good with words. Smooth-talker.
by bearclaw/// July 23, 2009
Get the Street smart mug.An adjective that dumb people use to describe themselves, when they don't get good grades in school.
Zach: Even though I'm failing all of my classes, I think its more important to be street smart than book smart.
by TheCatcherInThePye March 28, 2013
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Strictly defined, "Street Smart" describes a person with knowledge gained by experience rather than education.
In practical application, "Street Smart" is what stupid people claim to be in order to save face when their stupidity comes to light. It is effective in that regard, as it can not be disproved and places the individual in a higher regard than someone who is "Book Smart" by promoting their nebulous "Smarts" as being more practical than the well-educated individual's.
In the context of psychology, the claim of being "Street Smart" when an individual's stupidity is made apparent is vital to preserving their mental well-being. Most people have been engineered to have the fragile type of high self-esteem, which is self-esteem developed in the absence of actual merit that would warrant high self-esteem. As a part of this fragile self-esteem, the person will believe that they are smart regardless of real intelligence, and when that person's iteration of reality is threatened (i.e. their stupidity is made apparent) the psyche protects itself by assuring the individual that what they've been told all their life (that they are smart) is still true by denying this new and conflicting information (their obvious stupidity) and substituting it with an alternative reality, thus avoiding much Cognitive Dissonance (mental pain that results from beliefs not matching reality) and so averting a psychic break. To summarize in a quote, "I reject your reality and replace it with my own."
In practical application, "Street Smart" is what stupid people claim to be in order to save face when their stupidity comes to light. It is effective in that regard, as it can not be disproved and places the individual in a higher regard than someone who is "Book Smart" by promoting their nebulous "Smarts" as being more practical than the well-educated individual's.
In the context of psychology, the claim of being "Street Smart" when an individual's stupidity is made apparent is vital to preserving their mental well-being. Most people have been engineered to have the fragile type of high self-esteem, which is self-esteem developed in the absence of actual merit that would warrant high self-esteem. As a part of this fragile self-esteem, the person will believe that they are smart regardless of real intelligence, and when that person's iteration of reality is threatened (i.e. their stupidity is made apparent) the psyche protects itself by assuring the individual that what they've been told all their life (that they are smart) is still true by denying this new and conflicting information (their obvious stupidity) and substituting it with an alternative reality, thus avoiding much Cognitive Dissonance (mental pain that results from beliefs not matching reality) and so averting a psychic break. To summarize in a quote, "I reject your reality and replace it with my own."
Lance: "The world is flat." Or whatever.
David: "No, the world is round. That's how we have a horizon. In any case, we've been to space and seen it for ourselves. Many, many times. Dumbass."
Lance: "WHATEVER I'M NOT BOOK SMART I'M STREET SMART"
David: "No, the world is round. That's how we have a horizon. In any case, we've been to space and seen it for ourselves. Many, many times. Dumbass."
Lance: "WHATEVER I'M NOT BOOK SMART I'M STREET SMART"
by unoriginal_name33 March 10, 2017
Get the street smart mug.something stupid people made up to make themselves feel better about themselves, aka things smart people already know
by snackdaniels May 31, 2018
Get the street smart mug.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.
by waspcoloredstain October 26, 2013
Get the Street Smart mug.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
2. mike was street smart on account of the bar fight he got into when he lived in new york
by 09xuerebf February 18, 2010
Get the street smart mug.Dave- Hey, have you read this book?
Mark- Naw man i'm street smart naw book smart.
Dave- You're a fucking dumbass
Mark- Naw man i'm street smart naw book smart.
Dave- You're a fucking dumbass
by sirius911 October 1, 2009
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