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up my alley

up my alley

Date: Dec 11 2008

Themes: Pop Culture

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“I felt like writing a comic book was right up my alley. Growing up, I didn’t have a TV, so comic books were everything to me.” (Entertainment Weekly)

- Rapper Method Man discussing his new graphic novel.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

matching my interests, knowledge, or abilities

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Method Man has a pretty impressive employment history. Although he’s probably best known as a rapper and member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, he’s also been a record producer, an actor, and now…a comic book writer.

While it seems surprising that Method Man has turned his attention to comics, he says they’re right up his alley. Since he was poor growing up and his family didn’t have a TV, he spent a lot of his free time reading comics. So now he knows a lot about comics and is interested in them. Writing his own graphic novel came naturally to him.

An alley is a narrow street or road. Weirdly enough, the words “up” and “down” basically mean the same thing in these phrases. In this phrase the word “up” doesn’t mean “up” like the sky. Instead, it means something more like “on.” If something is literally up your alley, it’s on the street where you live. So you’re probably pretty familiar with it and feel a connection to it.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“I like Josh’s new Porsche, but it isn’t really up my alley. I prefer big trucks to small sports cars.
You should tell Chris about that article you read on killer bees. It sounds like the kind of thing that would be right up his alley.
Are you a fan of Metallica, or is that kind of music not really up your alley?”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

VOLTS corresponding to my interests
by VOLTSSuper Member!
mecklybver suitable. one's thing. cup of tea
by mecklybver
Sezai The very thing, appropriate. Matching a person's interests or abilities well.
by Sezai
It means that it is something that you would be very comfortable with, due to experience or interest. A similar idiom is "my cup of tea".
by Natashechka
hpyhua one's favourites
by hpyhua
timmat It is the most suitable for a duty, a subject or a situation.
by timmat
najafi Very appropriate for someone
by najafi
Dani J. in my neighborhood of expertise
by Dani J.
云淡风轻 my style;what I like
by 云淡风轻
shadow-man he means that writing a comic book suits him perfectly
by shadow-man
lalobrown If something is right up your alley, it suits you perfectly.
by lalobrown

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Comments

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mema_85

mema_85

Egypt

“up my alley’
new and cool expression.

09:56 AM Dec 17 2008 |

Roger_ksa

Roger_ksa

Saudi Arabia

up my alley :) nice expression I really like it :)

02:33 PM Dec 14 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

“That’s trip!” hehe…This is like here in Brazil when you talk…”this is or not my beach”,literally hehe :D

12:33 PM Dec 13 2008 |

ch3rrybl0ss0m

France

love Method

07:50 AM Dec 12 2008 |

liushuixun

China

I think if someone can find something up his or her alley is happy.The thing is that most of us don’t know.

11:39 PM Dec 11 2008 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

learn English was right up my alley

07:59 PM Dec 11 2008 |

Dafi

Dafi

Malaysia

this lesson is up my alley hihi

04:20 PM Dec 11 2008 |

zhong yulu

zhong yulu

China

sth that fit one’s taste.

10:43 AM Dec 11 2008 |

leonlai

leonlai

China

My cup of tea

04:19 AM Dec 11 2008 |

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

Blink-182 is one of classic punk bands and punk rock is definitely up my alley.

02:25 AM Dec 11 2008 |

renee

renee

China

something is suitable one’s style

01:16 AM Dec 11 2008 |

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