Alley Meaning
Alley Definition & Usage
A narrow passage or pathway between buildings, often found in urban areas.
Examples
- "She walked quickly down the alley, hoping not to encounter anyone."
- "The alley was filled with discarded cardboard boxes and broken furniture."
- "They lived on the edge of the city, near a narrow alley that led to the market."
- "The cat darted into the alley, disappearing from view."
- "In the dark alley, only the sound of distant traffic could be heard."
A specific lane or route in a sports competition, particularly in bowling or basketball.
Examples
- "The basketball player took a quick drive down the alley to score a layup."
- "He rolled the ball down the alley, knocking over all the pins in one go."
- "The alley in bowling needs to be kept smooth for an optimal game."
- "She made a sharp pass down the alley to her teammate."
- "The alley-oop dunk was a crowd favorite at the basketball game."
Cultural Context
The term 'alley' has been around for centuries, evolving from the Old French word 'alée'. While originally meaning a passage for walking or driving through gardens, it has come to represent narrow urban paths between buildings. In modern times, alleys are often depicted in literature and film as dark, mysterious places.
The Alley of Secrets
Story
The Alley of Secrets
The rain had been coming down steadily for hours, soaking the streets and turning the city into a blur of wet asphalt and dimly lit storefronts. For Emma, the alley behind her apartment was a familiar refuge, a shortcut to the main street where the bus would take her to work. But tonight, something felt different. As she stepped into the narrow passage, her footsteps echoed against the damp walls. A flicker of movement caught her eye. It was just a cat, darting into a corner, but the sight sent a shiver up her spine. 'Strange,' she thought, 'I don't remember ever seeing that cat around here before.' As she walked further, her thoughts turned to the stories she had heard about the alley. 'They say it's haunted,' her friend Natalie had warned her. 'People have gone missing there, never to be seen again.' Emma dismissed it as local gossip, but tonight, the alley seemed darker than usual. A faint noise came from ahead—footsteps. She froze. Her heart raced as the sound grew louder. Was someone else in the alley with her? As she rounded the corner, the dim light from a distant streetlamp illuminated the figure ahead: a man, standing motionless. Emma's breath caught in her throat. He was tall, wearing a dark coat that seemed to blend with the shadows. He didn't move, didn't speak. She took a cautious step back, but just then, the man turned and disappeared down the alley, vanishing into the darkness. Shaken, Emma hurried out of the alley, her thoughts racing. 'What was that?' she wondered. She had heard the stories, but never truly believed them. Tonight, she wasn't so sure. The alley had always been a shortcut for her, but now, it felt more like a place of secrets, a space where reality blurred with the unknown. As Emma stepped back into the warmth of the street, she caught sight of a group of children playing basketball nearby. One of them attempted an alley-oop, leaping high in the air to dunk the ball. It was a different kind of alley, one full of energy and excitement, but Emma couldn't help but wonder if every alley held its own secrets—just waiting to be uncovered.
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