rat race

IPA/ˈræt ˌreɪs/
IPA/ˈræt ˌreɪs/

rat race — 名詞

1. an exhausting lifestyle in which people keep chasing money, status, or career su

1.名詞B2
釋義

汲汲營營

為了名利不停競爭的生活

an exhausting lifestyle in which people keep chasing money, status, or career success and have little time to relax or enjoy life.

例句

After ten years in banking, Soraya left the rat race and opened a seaside bakery.

在銀行業待了十年後，Soraya 離開了汲汲營營的生活，到海邊開了一家麵包店。

leave the rat race

The crowded commuter train reminded Owen why he hated the rat race.

擁擠的通勤列車提醒 Owen，他有多討厭這種汲汲營營。

the rat race in daily city work

同義詞
  • grind

    focuses on tiring daily work; rat race adds stronger competition for success and status

  • treadmill

    stresses effort without progress; rat race keeps the idea of rivalry with other people

  • hustle culture

    more modern and social; often criticizes the belief that constant work should define your life

反義詞
  • slow life

    emphasizes calmer living with less pressure and less competition

  • easygoing life

    broader and less fixed; suggests a relaxed pace rather than nonstop ambition

文法句型

the rat race

escape/leave the rat race

drop out of the rat race

用法筆記

Usually refers to an ongoing way of life, not just one stressful day. It often appears with verbs such as 'escape', 'leave', 'quit', or 'drop out of', and it commonly suggests disapproval of career pressure and competition.

常見錯誤

❌My Monday meeting was a rat race.
✅My job feels like a rat race.
💡use it for a continuing lifestyle of pressure and competition, not one busy event.
❌She wants to leave rat race.
✅She wants to leave the rat race.
💡this phrase usually takes the article 'the'.