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English Club : Learn English : Vocabulary
Vocabulary : Idioms : Animals : the rat race

the rat race

Meaning: The rat race is the highly competitive and stressful world of work and business.

For example:

  • Sally is sick of the rat race. She's going to quit her job in London and move to a quiet village and open a small cafe.

  • My uncle says that success in the rat race can make you rich, but it can also turn you into a self-centred and shallow person.

Quick Quiz:

Harry wants to get out of the rat race because
  1. he hates rats
  2. he doesn't really like racing
  3. he doesn't like the person he's becoming