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skid row

noun
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\ ˈskid-ˈrō How to pronounce skid row (audio) \

Definition of skid row

: a district of cheap saloons and flophouses frequented by vagrants and alcoholics

Examples of skid row in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That, residents and property owners say, has brought rats and disease into skid row and surrounding neighborhoods. — Dakota Smith, latimes.com, "L.A. agreed to let homeless people keep their skid row belongings. That could change," 5 July 2019 As seen in the film, the middle-aged Moore was inspired to perfect these skid row toasts. — Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, "Fact-checking 'Dolemite Is My Name': Rudy Ray Moore's true story really is that wild," 25 Oct. 2019 White said the killing was one of a number of tent fires that ripped through the skid row area in August, with several occurring near the same intersection where Fields was attacked. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, "Firecrackers. Molotov cocktails. Fire attacks have shaken L.A.’s homeless community," 18 Oct. 2019 In it the gay African-American of the title lounges in a Chelsea Hotel penthouse, relating outlandish tales about his past as a hustler, houseboy, cabaret performer, bon vivant, and skid row derelict. — BostonGlobe.com, "Most read on BostonGlobe.com," 11 Oct. 2019 Two of the men were killed on The Bowery, which cuts through the heart of Chinatown and has for decades been known as New York’s skid row. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Suspect held in fatal bludgeoning of sleeping homeless men," 5 Oct. 2019 Two of the men were killed on The Bowery, which cuts through the heart of Chinatown and has for decades been known as New York's skid row. — Author: Verena Dobnik, Rebecca Gibian, Anchorage Daily News, "4 homeless men beaten to death with pipe in New York City," 5 Oct. 2019 Two of the men were killed on The Bowery, which cuts through the heart of Chinatown and has for decades been known as New York's skid row. — Verena Dobnik And Rebecca Gibian, chicagotribune.com, "4 homeless men beaten to death with pipe in New York City," 5 Oct. 2019 Homeless camps, including the large one in the city’s skid row district, develop their own cultures. — Scott Wilson, Washington Post, "Trump’s proposals to tackle California homelessness face local, legal obstacles," 12 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'skid row.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of skid row

circa 1931, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for skid row

alteration of skid road

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Time Traveler for skid row

Time Traveler

The first known use of skid row was circa 1931

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Statistics for skid row

Last Updated

29 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Skid row.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skid%20row. Accessed 10 December 2019.

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More Definitions for skid row

skid row

noun
How to pronounce skid row (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of skid row

chiefly US, informal : a poor part of a town or city where people who are homeless or who drink too much often go

See the full definition for skid row in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on skid row

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with skid row

Nglish: Translation of skid row for Spanish Speakers

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