walking the streets

Verb

walk the streets (third-person singular simple present walks the streets, present participle walking the streets, simple past and past participle walked the streets)

1. To walk about in a city or town, especially as an activity in itself.
   • The art of walking the streets, if it was ever known, is a lost art in America.1874, Scribner's Monthly, May—October, page 127
2. To be free to move about in a city or town.
   • Doctor, you have stated that you assumed that there are many people walking the streets who are neurotic.1951, New York Court of Appeals, Records and Briefs, New York Court of Appeals, page 546
3. (dated) To be unemployed; to be looking for work.
   • Probably at the age of eleven, when he should be at school, he is driven into the workshop and a journeyman is allowed to walk the streets, because a great deal that he does can be done by the apprentice.1899, Documents of the City of Boston, Volume 3, Boston City Council, page 63
4. To prostitute.