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Up a blind alley

Up a blind alley

Meaning

On a fruitless course of action.

Examples

We couldn’t trace their fraudulent transactions – the evidence was gone. We were just looking up a blind alley.

Where did it originate?

Britain, 16th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Up a blind alley

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