shrewd awareness of how to survive or succeed in any situation, especially as a result of living or working in a difficult environment, as a city ghetto neighborhood.
Origin
1970-75
Examples from the web for street smarts
The beach is among the safer spots in the city, but travelers are still advised to use their street smarts, especially at night.
Because there are many new users without street smarts online.
He brings a unique blend of musical skills, street smarts and cultural cachet to everything he touches.
It was there he developed his street smarts and survival skills.
Get your career, bank account or home situation in order while your street smarts are in high gear.
Cunning and cleverness of a very practical sort, esp that useful in the urban ghetto: that raging philosophical conflict between street smarts and pinstripes(1972+)