the man on the street
the man on the street (idiom)
/ðə ˌmæn ɒn ðə striːt/
Meanings
- An ordinary person in society; a typical, average member of the public.
- Someone without special knowledge, expertise, or status in a particular field.
- A regular passerby or bystander in everyday situations.
Synonyms: average Joe; common man; ordinary citizen; everyday person.
Example Sentences
- The man on the street often has no strong opinion on complex political matters but cares deeply about basic issues like healthcare and safety.
- The new tax law is so complicated that even the man on the street finds it hard to understand how it affects his paycheck.
- When the reporter asked the man on the street for his opinion, he simply said, “I just want things to be affordable.”
Origin and History
The idiom “the man on the street” is a metaphorical expression that denotes the ordinary individual, representing the perspectives, opinions, or experiences of the general public in contrast to experts or elites. Interchangeable with “the man in the street” in some contexts, it signifies an unassuming citizen whose views reflect broader societal sentiments. The phrase has permeated journalism, politics, and everyday discourse, emphasizing the value of commonplace insights in democratic societies.
Etymology and Linguistic Roots
The phrase derives from the word “street,” rooted in Old English “strǣt” and Late Latin “strata,” meaning a paved road or public thoroughfare. In its idiomatic form, it evolved to symbolize accessibility and commonality, with “man” representing humanity generically in the early 19th century. The variant “on the street” is prevalent in American English, while “in the street” dominates British usage, highlighting transatlantic linguistic differences. This evolution reflects how public spaces like streets became associated with the domain of the average person in industrializing societies.
The Rise of the Idiom
The idiom emerged in the early 1800s as a reflection of increasing democratization, when ordinary citizens’ opinions began to shape public affairs through expanded voting rights and media. It originated as a neutral figure embodying public opinion, akin to the concept of “vox populi” or “voice of the people.” The phrase developed in British legal and journalistic contexts to denote the “reasonable person,” paralleling expressions like “the man on the Clapham omnibus.” Its rise aligns with a cultural shift toward valuing grassroots perspectives during urbanization.
Country of First Appearance
The idiom originated in the United Kingdom, rooted in British English traditions. Its early use aligns with the 19th-century British social and political landscape, where public discourse increasingly valued non-elite viewpoints. Initially employed sarcastically in aristocratic writings to contrast the informed elite with the uninformed masses, the phrase later influenced American journalism, with the variant “man on the street” emerging in the United States, but its foundational form is distinctly British.
Historical Development
The idiom gained prominence in the 19th century with rising literacy and print media, shifting from a dismissive reference to the uninformed to a symbol of authentic public sentiment. By the late 1800s, it shaped American journalism through “man on the street” interviews capturing spontaneous public opinions. Popularized in the 20th century via radio and television, the phrase became a tool for gauging societal sentiment during events like elections or crises. It has since adapted to include gender-neutral forms, reflecting linguistic inclusivity while retaining its association with everyday wisdom.
Earliest Printed Record and Quotations
The idiom was first formally documented in English in 1831, marking its initial appearance in written records.
The earliest printed record of the idiom, as “the man in the street,” appears in The Greville Memoirs: A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IV, authored by Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville and edited by Henry Reeve, published in 1874 by Longmans, Green, and Co. in London.
The entry, dated July 3, 1831, in Volume II, states:
“Knowing as ‘the man in the street’ (as we call him at Newmarket) always does, the greatest secrets of kings, and being the confidant of their most intimate intrigues.”
Additional early quotations include – from 1889, in the Chicago Daily Tribune:
“The man on the street is not worrying about the silver question.”
From 1902, in The Times (London):
“The man in the street is not expected to know the intricacies of international law.”
And from 1920, in The New York Times:
“The man on the street wants peace and prosperity, not political debates.”
These examples illustrate the phrase’s early sarcastic tone evolving into a neutral representation of public opinion. The American variant “man on the street” is first attested in 1889.
Variants
- the average Joe
- the common man
- the ordinary person
- everyday person
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