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Skid row

Skid row

Meaning

The rundown area of a city inhabited by the destitute.

Examples

Lost my job, Jill left me, started drinking – pretty soon I was on skid row.

Where did it originate?

USA, early 20th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide, but most common in the USA.

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How the idiom originated

  • How did the idiom “Skid row” originate?

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Skid row

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