blind alley

/'blaind'æli/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
blind alley

The investigation led the police down a blind alley.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A street or passage that is closed at one end: A physical path with no exit, only one entrance.
    • (Figurative) A course of action that leads to no progress or success: A method, plan, or line of inquiry that is unproductive and offers no hope of a positive outcome or improvement.
Examples of Usage

  • Literal meaning:

    • The taxi driver turned into a blind alley and had to reverse out.
    • Their house is located down a quiet blind alley.

  • Figurative meaning:

    • The investigation hit a blind alley when the main witness disappeared.
    • That line of research is a blind alley; we need a new approach.
Advanced Usage
  • "to be/look down a blind alley": To be pursuing or examining an option that will not lead to success.
    • Politically, the party is looking down a blind alley with that unpopular policy.
  • "to lead someone up/down a blind alley": To mislead someone or cause them to waste effort on a futile course.
    • The false clue led the detectives up a blind alley for weeks.
Variants and Related Words
  • Cul-de-sac (n): Another term for a street closed at one end. Often used interchangeably with the literal meaning of 'blind alley', but 'cul-de-sac' can have a more neutral or even positive connotation (e.g., a quiet residential street).
  • Dead end (n): A street or passage with no exit. Also used figuratively for a situation with no hope of progress. ('Dead end' is a very close synonym).
  • Impasse (n): A situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement. This is a synonym for the figurative meaning.
Synonyms
  • Dead end (n): A road or path with no exit; a point of no progress.
  • Stalemate (n): A situation in which further action or progress by opposing parties seems impossible. (More specific to conflicts).
  • Standstill (n): A situation or condition in which there is no movement or activity at all.
Related Phrases
  • To reach a dead end: To arrive at a point where one can make no further progress.
    • Our negotiations have reached a dead end.
  • A fruitless endeavor: An effort that produces no useful result. (This is a descriptive phrase, not a phrasal verb).
Related Idioms
  • To be at a standstill: To be completely stopped, with no activity or progress.
    • Production is at a standstill due to the strike.
  • To paint oneself into a corner: To create a situation for oneself from which there is no escape or good solution.
    • By making unrealistic promises, he painted himself into a corner.
blind alley

The investigation led the police down a blind alley.

Noun
  1. (figurative) a course of action that is unproductive and offers no hope of improvement
    • all the clues led the police into blind alleys
    • so far every road that we've been down has turned out to be a blind alley
  2. a street with only one way in or out

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