hit the streets

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hit the streets" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone leaves their home or office and goes out to a certain location or area. For example: "After spending all day in the office, he decided to hit the streets and explore the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has even hit the streets.

The New York Times

That hit the streets on 22 April.

The Guardian

This was long before The Onion newspaper hit the streets.

The New York Times - Arts

Schnitzel & Things hit the streets a couple of months ago.

The New York Times

Maybe it's time to hit the streets and evangelize.

The New Yorker

For revolutionary food, one must hit the streets.

The New York Times - Travel

Joe Campbell – who "came and hit the streets.

The Guardian - Music

Lay down those college books and hit the streets..

The New York Times

The first cars hit the streets in June this year.

The Guardian

Straight off our train, we put our bags away and hit the streets.

Cornell University

It is time for scientists to leave the lab and hit the streets!

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hit the streets" to convey a sense of purpose or urgency when someone is entering a public area. For example, "After the concert, the fans hit the streets to celebrate."

Common error

Avoid using "hit the streets" when simply referring to someone leaving their home for a routine errand. The phrase implies a specific intention or activity in the public sphere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hit the streets" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of going out into public. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically correct idiom used to describe entering a public space with a specific intent or purpose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hit the streets" is a versatile idiom meaning to go out into public with a purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. It's most frequently used in news and media contexts, often implying action or engagement. When writing, be mindful of its connotation; it suggests more than just a casual outing. Consider alternatives like "take to the streets" or "go out and about" to fine-tune your message and get some fresh air.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take to the streets

Emphasizes a more purposeful or organized entry into a public space, often for protest or demonstration.

go out and about

Focuses on general movement and activity in public, without necessarily implying a specific destination or purpose.

venture out

Suggests a more exploratory or uncertain movement into a public space.

step out

A more casual and general term for leaving a place, often for a short period.

take a walk

Implies a leisurely movement on foot in a public area.

go downtown

Specifies a particular area within a city as the destination.

begin patrolling

Highlights a movement by security or law enforcement personnel

leave the house

A general term for exiting one's residence, without specifying the destination.

go outside

Simply means moving from an indoor space to an outdoor space.

get some fresh air

Indicates going outside for relaxation.

FAQs

How can I use "hit the streets" in a sentence?

You can use "hit the streets" to describe someone leaving a place to go out into public, usually with a purpose. For example, "The marketing team decided to "hit the streets" to promote their new product."

What does "hit the streets" mean?

"Hit the streets" is an idiom that means to go out into public, often implying activity or purpose such as protesting, campaigning, or simply exploring.

What can I say instead of "hit the streets"?

Alternatives to "hit the streets" include "take to the streets", "go out and about", or "venture out", depending on the context.

Is "hitting the streets" the same as "hit the streets"?

"Hitting the streets" is the present participle form of ""hit the streets"", used in continuous tenses. For example, "They are hitting the streets to gather signatures for their petition" versus "They will hit the streets tomorrow."