backstreet
Quiet urban passage
A backstreet is a minor road away from main thoroughfares, often in older or less prosperous parts of town.
As an adjective, backstreet suggests something hidden, unofficial, or illicit: a backstreet abortion, a backstreet deal.
The connotation is of activities conducted away from public scrutiny.
Of small width
- dumpsterCommercial refuse container
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- clotheslineCord for air-drying laundry
- shadowsDark areas from blocked light
footsteps · echo · puddle · cobblestone · drainage · garbage · pigeon · flicker
Practice of hiding information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
unseen · obscure · tucked-away · unmarked · unnoticed · discreet · inconspicuous · secret
Rundown and disreputable
- underbellyVulnerable lower surface
- grimeIngrained surface dirt
- squalorDirty, degraded living conditions
- roughUneven in surface
edgy · raw · grungy · dilapidated · decayed · neglected · rundown · shabby
Alternate path around obstruction
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- pathwayDesignated route for travel
- routePath from A to B
- passageSegment of text
lane · cut-through · alternative · navigation · winding · maze · warren · labyrinth
Illicit trading network
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
dealings · shady · hustle · racket · speakeasy · hideout · rendezvous · getaway
narrow
Of small width
- dumpsterCommercial refuse container
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- clotheslineCord for air-drying laundry
shadows · footsteps · echo · puddle · cobblestone · drainage · garbage · pigeon · flicker · gutter
secrecy
Practice of hiding information
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
concealed · unseen · obscure · tucked-away · unmarked · unnoticed · discreet · inconspicuous · secret · private
seedy
Rundown and disreputable
- underbellyVulnerable lower surface
- grimeIngrained surface dirt
- squalorDirty, degraded living conditions
rough · edgy · raw · grungy · dilapidated · decayed · neglected · rundown · shabby · crime-ridden
detour
Alternate path around obstruction
passage · lane · cut-through · alternative · navigation · winding · maze · warren · labyrinth · zigzag
black-market
Illicit trading network
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
contraband · dealings · shady · hustle · racket · speakeasy · hideout · rendezvous · getaway · sanctuary
yesteryear
Time not long past
reminisce · heritage · historic · timeless · bygone · old-fashioned · cobbled · pre-war · working-class · immigrant
- side streetsalley, alleys, side road, byway, lane
- alleysalley, alleyway, blind alley, narrow lane, narrow passage
- quiet streetscul-de-sac, dead end, alley, alleyway, lane
- backroadsbackroad, dirt road, country road, unpaved road, gravel road
- roadshighway, highways, road, freeway, roads
backstreethigh street
Town's central shopping road
main road · thoroughfare · main drag · highway · boulevard
backstreetlegitimate
Conforming to accepted standards
aboveboard · official · respectable · licensed · sanctioned
backstreetpublic square
Open urban gathering place
town center · high street · marketplace · civic center · downtown