What phrase is correct in the street or on the street?

Answer 1

The phrases "in the street" and "on the street" are sometimes interchangeable in the English language but they have distinct meanings.

"In the street" could be used for something literally "in" the street. For examples:

• The man double-parked in the street.
• Litter was in the street.
• The man drove in the street. (This sentence would rarely be used because we assume a car is driven "in" the lane of a street. When we use another type of road, we use "on" -- The man drove on the highway.)
• The manhole cover that should have been in its hole in the street had been removed and was left lying on the street.
• The school children walked on the sidewalk rather than in the street.
• The snow drifts were so high, citizens had to walk in the street.
• The snow drifts were so high along the sides of the street, the only clear walkway was in the street since there were no sidewalks.

In the US and English language "in the middle of" often precedes "street" in our spoken and written language.

• He drove in the middle of the street, endangering cars in the oncoming lane.
• Children raised in the country often walk in the middle of the street. (or road)
• The injured dog lay in the middle of the street after being hit by a passing car.
• Mary spotted a ten-dollar bill lying in the street and jay-walked to pick it up.
• It is dangerous to open a car door in the street. (in or into)

In the USA, our houses are "on" a street, we drive "on" a street, we live "on" a street, we walk "on" a street, etc.

Overseas, they might use "in".

Ex. I live in Briar Close Lane. (a street)