alley

*up a blind alley

Fig. at a dead end; on a route that leads nowhere. (*Typically:be ~; go ~.) I have been trying to find out something about my ancestors, but I'm up a blind alley. I can't find anything. The police are up a blind alley in their investigation of the crime.

See also: blind, up

right down someone's alley and right up someone's alley

Fig. ideally suited to one's interests or abilities. Skiing is right down my alley. I love it. This kind of thing is right up John's alley.

See also: right

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a blind alley

a method of thinking or acting which is not effective because it does not produce any results The latest evolutionary theory may turn out to be a blind alley.

See also: blind

be (right) up somebody's alley  (informal) also be (right) down somebody's alley (American & Australian informal)

if something is right up someone's alley, it is exactly the type of thing that they know about or like to do The job should be right up Steve's alley - working with computers, software and stuff.

See also: up

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(right) up your alley (spoken) also (right) down your alley

suited to your abilities or interests Harry knows a lot about computers and software, so this job is right up his alley.

See also: up