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- Dictionaryrat race/ˈrat reɪs/
noun
- 1. a way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive struggle for wealth or power: informal "they quit the rat race in order to live a simple life"
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THE RAT RACE definition: 1. a way of life in modern society, in which people compete with each other for power and money…. Learn more.
A rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. The phrase equates humans to rats attempting to earn a reward such as cheese, in vain. It may also refer to a competitive struggle to get ahead financially or routinely.
Feb 18, 2024 · The meaning of RAT RACE is strenuous, wearisome, and usually competitive activity or rush.
What Is the Meaning of Rat Race? A rat race is a fierce, competitive way of life that involves pursuing goals in a repetitive, endless manner. The image behind the expression rat race is a group of laboratory rats racing through a maze in order to be the first one to obtain a goal.
1. A fierce competition for success, wealth, or power. The company's environment felt like a rat race—employees were constantly sabotaging each other to climb the corporate ladder. 2. A busy, tiring routine. Cathy was tired of the rat race and knew she needed to get a less stressful job. See also: race, rat.
If you imagine a rat struggling to survive on the city streets, or a lab rat running through a maze to find a piece of cheese, you'll get a pretty clear idea of the meaning behind rat race. If it helps, picture the rat carrying a little briefcase.
Rat race definition: any exhausting, unremitting, and usually competitive activity or routine, especially a pressured urban working life spent trying to get ahead with little time left for leisure, contemplation, etc.. See examples of RAT RACE used in a sentence.
