alley
alley — noun
1. a small street, often paved, that runs between or behind houses, shops, or other
a small street, often paved, that runs between or behind houses, shops, or other buildings, usually too narrow for a car to pass through easily.
Priya took a shortcut down a dark alley behind the bakery.
down + an alley (motion through)
Two cats were fighting over a fish bone in the alley.
The hotel staff carry rubbish out through a service alley at the back.
Yael's bike skidded on the wet stones as she rode along the alley.
Police closed off a narrow alley near the train station after the robbery.
- lane
more general; can also be in the countryside
- passage
any narrow way, often covered or indoors
- back street
small road behind main streets, but usually wider than an alley
文法句型
down/along/through + an alley
用法筆記
Often paired with adjectives that describe the feel of the place (dark, narrow, quiet, dirty). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is between buildings in a town or city, not a path inside a park or garden.
常見錯誤
2. a long walking path inside a park, garden, or large estate, with rows of trees,
a long walking path inside a park, garden, or large estate, with rows of trees, hedges, or flowers planted along each side.
Old oak trees lined the alley leading from the gate to the main house.
alley lined with [plant] on each side
The royal gardener planted an alley of pink roses for the queen's birthday.
alley of + plural noun
Sven and his grandmother walked slowly down a shaded alley in the public park.
Sunlight broke through the trees and lit the long alley with patches of gold.
文法句型
alley + of + plural noun (trees, roses)
用法筆記
Usually appears with the pattern 'alley of + plant noun' (alley of limes, alley of cherry trees). Distinguish from sense 1: this alley is a quiet, planted walk for pleasure, not a back road in a town.
3. the long flat strip of polished wood at a bowling centre that a player rolls the
the long flat strip of polished wood at a bowling centre that a player rolls the ball along, trying to knock down the pins at the far end.
Daisy aimed for the middle of the alley and knocked down all ten pins.
rolling a ball down the alley toward pins
The wooden alley had been freshly waxed before the tournament started.
Ben's ball curved off the alley and dropped into the gutter.
Each alley at the bowling centre has its own screen showing the score.
文法句型
bowling alley (compound)
用法筆記
The compound 'bowling alley' can mean either the single lane (this sense) or the whole building where people go bowling. The wider venue meaning is far more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
4. in tennis or badminton, a thin strip running along each sideline that only count
in tennis or badminton, a thin strip running along each sideline that only counts as in-play during a doubles match between two teams of two players.
Anaya's serve clipped the line of the alley and was called good.
In singles, any ball that lands in the alley is out.
rule: alley = in for doubles, out for singles
The coach told the twins to aim deep into the alley to stretch their opponents.
A player at the net should always cover the alley on her side.
- tramline
British term for the same area, often used in plural ('the tramlines')
- doubles lane
descriptive everyday phrase, less technical
文法句型
the alley(s) on a tennis/badminton court
用法筆記
Almost always used in doubles contexts. Often called the 'doubles alley' for clarity. Frequently appears with 'down the alley' to describe a sharp shot pulled along that strip.
5. in baseball, the open patch of grass that lies between the two outfielders stand
in baseball, the open patch of grass that lies between the two outfielders standing furthest from home plate, often called the gap by commentators.
Reyes drove the ball deep into the alley for a stand-up triple.
into the alley for an extra-base hit
The fielders were caught out of position and the ball rolled into the alley.
A line drive split the alley between the centre and right fielders.
The young shortstop sprinted into the alley to back up the throw.
- gap
more common in modern baseball commentary
- power alley
specific phrase for the deepest part of left-centre or right-centre field
文法句型
into/in the alley
用法筆記
Mostly American sports talk. Subject of the verb is normally the ball or the hitter; common verbs are 'split', 'drive into', 'roll into', 'find'. The synonym 'gap' is heard at least as often in modern broadcasts.