Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

blind alley

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.78 in modern English

Syllables
blind al-ley
IPA
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see blind, alley. A street or passageway that leads nowhere.

noun

A course of inquiry that leads nowhere.

Example Sentences

Etymology

The notion of ‘blindness’ comes from the lack of a through passage (the ‘eye’). Attested since 1583, and used figuratively since the mid-19th century.

Inflected Forms

blind alleys (plural)

Synonyms

cul-de-sac dead end cul de sac dead-end street impasse

Questions

What does blind alley mean?
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see blind, alley. A street or passageway that leads nowhere.
Where does blind alley come from?
The notion of ‘blindness’ comes from the lack of a through passage (the ‘eye’). Attested since 1583, and used figuratively since the mid-19th century.

How to pronounce blind alley

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “blind alley”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “blind alley”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “blind alley” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.