Alley

Posted by Whozthis on November 04, 2004

In Reply to: Alley posted by Lewis on November 04, 2004

: : : Hi
: : : Could anyone answer this question to me?
: : : What is the meaning of *up in my alley*

: : : Artists like Alansist and Michelle would be right up my alley
: : : thanks

: : Which is it, "up in my alley," which I've never heard, or "up my alley"? The directional "up" is not usually meant literally. Downtown, uptown, down the shore, up my street, up my alley, are common indicators of location. "Up the street" means farther on than some reference location, as in "up the street from my house." "Up my alley," or especially "right up my alley," means that whatever is referred to is of special interest to me, perhaps because of taste, perhaps because of expertise. SS

: 'up my alley' - on my home turf, something pleasingly familiar.
: 'up my street' - same, slightly more remote figuratively.

: answering stupid questions is 'right up my street' as a know-all. when it is about music, military terms or history it is 'up my alley' and when about legal jargon it is 'right in my back yard'.

: some say 'familiarity breeds contempt'.

Pardon me .....but I think "Familiarity breeds contempt" means the more deeply you know people more you tend to dislike them. This phrase is a very good indicator of the fact that a respectable distance from everyone is best....the more you know ..... the more mistakes you tend to figure out in the person.
Coming back to the point "Familiarity breeds contempt" has no connection to the phrase "up my alley".

• Not your field Lewis 04/November/04
  • Prophet Smokey Stover 04/November/04
    • Familiarity Smokey Stover 04/November/04