What is the Meaning of the Expression ‘Blind Alley’?
A blind alley means a dead end; a course of action that leads nowhere and has no hope of progress or success.
This term used since the 1600s and is a reference to the dim-lit streets or passages that have only one entrance. A person who cannot see the other end of the alley in the dark will obviously go forward only to find a dead end. This term is a metaphor for a course of action that leads nowhere.
For example —
“I tried another approach involving Geometry to find a solution, but it too turned out to be a blind alley.”
It means that the new approach involving Geometry couldn’t find a solution either.
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Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.
