General
civvy street
What does civvy street mean?
The civilian world — life after you've handed in your kit and walked out the gate for the last time. Used by serving and ex-forces alike: 'back on civvy street' means back to a normal job, normal clothes ('civvies'), no one shouting at you at six in the morning. Often spoken with a mix of relief and dread.
"Twenty-two years in and now he's back on civvy street trying to work out how to write a CV."
Origin
British WWII-era slang. 'Civvy' = civilian; 'street' lends the metaphor of a place you go to.
Frequently asked questions
What does civvy street mean?
Civvy street refers to civilian life — the ordinary world outside the armed forces.
How do you use civvy street in a sentence?
"After ten years in the army, he found it hard to adjust to civvy street."
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