The general definition of street smart is someone who is intelligent, has good common sense, knows how to handle
bad situations, and has the skills necessary to function where they live (usually the ghetto or the streets). However, the term is usually used to contrast and compare with another term known as "book smart".
The stereotype of a street smart
person is someone who is intelligent and knows how to handle important situations in the streets but is not as well-educated academically. However, the stereotype of a book smart
person is someone who is upper-class and well educated but less knowledgeable when it comes to handling important situations faced in
bad neighborhoods and lower-class city areas.
The more extreme and negative stereotypes are that street smart
people are unintelligent and incapable of achieving a higher education, while book smart
people are naive, easily manipulated, and have
bad judgment in
bad situations.
Both stereotypes aren't always true and any semblance of them are only due to different lifestyles and experiences.
Josh: Are you sure me and Jason will get along? Jason is street
smart and I'm book smart. We will probably be very different from each other.
Mike: Nah, don't worry. Jason
may be street smart but he is also book smart. I'm sure you two will have a lot in common.
