"block" ~= street, and the OED?

[Ben Zimmer]

On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 8:51 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
> In Vietnam-era writings, "back on the block" is frequently used to mean,
> "back in the old (usu. inner-city) neighborhood."
>
> But "*get back to the block" sounds impossible to me.  It would have to be
> "on."

And let's not forget how Jennifer Lopez tried to stay true to her
Bronx roots by proclaiming, "Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got /
I'm still, I'm still Jenny from the block."

--bgz

--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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