English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Blind alley
Meaning
The idiom "blind alley" refers to a situation or path that leads nowhere or is a dead end. It can also mean a situation that appears promising at first but ultimately leads to disappointment or failure.
Usage
- After spending hours searching for the missing item, they realized they had been down a blind alley and needed to start again.
- The company's new marketing strategy seemed like a promising idea, but it turned out to be a blind alley that didn't generate any results.
- The patient's symptoms led doctors down a blind alley of unnecessary tests and treatments before finally discovering the root cause of their illness.
- Trying to solve this problem feels like being stuck in a blind alley - I know I need to keep moving forward, but I don't see any way out.
- The city council's decision to build a new highway through the heart of the city has turned into a blind alley for local businesses and residents alike.
Roots and History
The idiom "blind alley" dates back to at least the 17th century, with its first known use appearing in a collection of proverbs in 1654. The phrase likely originated from the literal meaning of a blind alley, which is a path that is blocked or ends abruptly, making it difficult to see what lies ahead. Over time, the idiom has come to be used metaphorically to describe situations that are promising at first but ultimately lead to disappointment or failure.
Synonyms in English
- Dead end
- Blind spot
- End of the road
- Brainchild
- Untrodden path
Synonyms in other languages
- 緶張的路 (Japanese) - A nerve-wracking or anxiety-inducing situation that appears promising at first but ultimately leads to disappointment or failure.
- קומת פסרה (Hebrew) - A situation that appears promising at first but ultimately leads to disappointment or failure, often referred to as a "false prophet" or a "false hope".
- אלא בוגה נכון (Hebrew) - A situation that is both promising and difficult to navigate, often requiring careful planning and consideration.
- فرغ الطبيب (Persian) - A situation that appears promising at first but ultimately leads to disappointment or failure, often referred to as a "false promise".
- عملية قضية (Arabic) - A legal process that appears promising at first but ultimately leads to disappointment or failure, often due to errors or miscommunications along the way.