抜け道

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 抜け道 (ぬけみち) is a compound noun for a shortcut around a main route or a passage used to escape confinement.
• Basic usage: 住宅街の抜け道を通る uses a residential shortcut to avoid traffic, while 城から続く抜け道を見つける discovers a passage leading out of a castle.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Traffic shortcut and escape passage
  • 渋滞を避ける抜け道 is a route around traffic, whereas 城から外へ続く抜け道 is a means of escape. The castle passage should not be reduced to an ordinary traffic shortcut.