rat race




WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ˈrat ˌrace, n. [countable]
  1. Informal Termsexhausting, highly competitive activity, esp. one aimed at success in business.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
rat′ race′, [Informal.]
  1. Informal Termsany exhausting, unremitting, and usually competitive activity or routine, esp. a pressured urban working life spent trying to get ahead with little time left for leisure, contemplation, etc.
  • 1935–40, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
rat race
  1. a continual routine of hectic competitive activity: working in the City is a real rat race
'rat race' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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