blind alley

noun

1. a road, alley, etc., that is open at only one end.
2. a position or situation offering no hope of progress or improvement:

   That line of reasoning will only lead you up another blind alley.

blind alley

noun

1. an alley open at one end only; cul-de-sac
2. informal.
   a situation in which no further progress can be made

Word History and Origins

Origin of blind alley¹

First recorded in 1575–85

Idioms and Phrases

A dead end; a position without hope of progress or success. For example, That line of questioning led the attorney up yet another blind alley . This term alludes to a street or alley that has no outlet at one end. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

The Welsh Conservative's Senedd leader has been warned against going down a "blind alley" of trying to debate the abolition of the Welsh Parliament.

From BBC

In many cases, the threat of costly legal action can silence critics, leaving the scientific record uncorrected, which risks other researchers wasting funding by chasing down blind alleys.

From Science Magazine

The lessons gleaned from "End Times" could help redirect us away from blind alleys as we seek to find our way through the challenges confronting us in the turbulent 2020s.

From Salon

Cabinet of scapegoating Albanians because it “has gone down a blind alley with its new policy resulting from Brexit.”

From Seattle Times

In short, you may have to go down several blind alleys to reclaim your account and in the end you may be unsuccessful.

From Seattle Times