back street
Quiet urban passage
A back street is a minor road away from main thoroughfares, often in older or less prosperous parts of town.
The term carries connotations of seediness or secrecy: back-street deals, a back-street abortion.
As an adjective (usually hyphenated), back-street suggests something hidden or illicit: a back-street clinic.
Of small width
- laneDesignated travel strip
- passagewayEnclosed route between spaces
- alleywayNarrow urban passage
- sidestreetMinor road off thoroughfare
service road · footpath · pathway · walkway · cul-de-sac · dead end · mews · close
Ingrained surface dirt
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- dilapidatedRuined through neglect
- roughUneven in surface
edgy · underbelly · noir · poverty · neglect · underworld · vice · seedy
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- furtiveSecretive and sly
surreptitious · veiled · obscure · mysterious · camouflaged · shrouded · undercover · invisible
Lacking in sound
- residentialRelating to housing
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- undisturbedFree from interference
- tranquilCalm and untroubled
peaceful · serene · leafy · isolated · retreat · sanctuary · haven · remote
Time not long past
- memoriesStored past experiences
- retroEvoking recent past
- vintageQuality from past eras
- bygoneOf earlier times
heritage · historic · old-fashioned · sepia · timeless · cobblestones · lamplights · childhood
narrow
Of small width
- laneDesignated travel strip
- passagewayEnclosed route between spaces
- alleywayNarrow urban passage
sidestreet · service road · footpath · pathway · walkway · cul-de-sac · dead end · mews · close · courtyard
grime
Ingrained surface dirt
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- dilapidatedRuined through neglect
rough · edgy · underbelly · noir · poverty · neglect · underworld · vice · seedy · rundown
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
furtive · surreptitious · veiled · obscure · mysterious · camouflaged · shrouded · undercover · invisible · unnoticed
quiet
Lacking in sound
- residentialRelating to housing
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- undisturbedFree from interference
tranquil · peaceful · serene · leafy · isolated · retreat · sanctuary · haven · remote · out-of-the-way
yesteryear
Time not long past
bygone · heritage · historic · old-fashioned · sepia · timeless · cobblestones · lamplights · childhood · shopfronts
back streethigh street
Town's central shopping road
main drag · main road · thoroughfare · boulevard · town center
back streetlegitimate
Conforming to accepted standards
aboveboard · official · licensed · sanctioned · respectable