| Idiom | Rat Race |
|---|---|
| Example | Let's quit this rat race and backpack around the world. |
| Meaning | a fierce, unending, stressful competition in business or society |
| Origin | Rat racing isn't a sporting event. Rats do have a reputation for relentlessness, competitiveness, and speed. This expression's origin is a nautical phrase for a fierce tidal current; "rat" and "race" are forms of the French "ras," which means "tide-race." "Rat race" suggests a confusing, crowded, useless scramble for survival, and, unfortunately, many people use the phrase to describe their jobs and lives. |
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