street rat
Gutter-dwelling child
A street rat is a person, usually young, who lives or spends most of their time on the streets—homeless, scrappy, and surviving by their wits.
The term carries connotations of poverty, dirtiness, and low social status: He grew up a street rat in the slums of Manila.
It can be used disparagingly or with a kind of rough affection, acknowledging resilience and street smarts.
- urchinNeglected street child
- gutterEdge channel for runoff
- back alleyPassage behind buildings
- alleyNarrow way between buildings
- scrappyAggressively spirited despite odds
homeless · thief · pickpocket · sticky fingers · survival · on the run · hungry · empty stomach · dirty · ragamuffin · Aladdin · diamond in the rough · rags to riches · orphan · scavenger · beggar · slum · vermin
- class labelsaristocrat, beggar, bourgeois, commoner, elite
street rataristocrat
Person of noble birth
heir · socialite · heiress · blue blood · trust fund kid
street rathomebody
One preferring domestic life
ward · foster child · nurtured · cared-for · looked after
street ratgentleman
Courteous, honorable man
lady · pillar of the community · well-bred · gentlewoman · debutante