rat raceˈrat race noun 
the story of a couple who quit the rat race
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- An executive from an international chemical company has given up the rat race to run a plant nursery.
- At least we would be out of the rat race until I had worked up some seniority in my job.
- Children are forced into the rat race for higher salary and prestige.
Longman Language Activatora situation in which people try to do better than each other
when people or organizations try hard to get something that they all want but only one of them can get: competition for: · Competition for these jobs is very tough - we had over 200 applicants.competition between: · There's a lot of competition between the big supermarket chains.face competition: · Today television networks face increasing competition from cable programming.fierce/strong/tough/stiff competition (=when a lot of people are all trying very hard to get something): · There is fierce competition for places on the Olympic team.be in competition with somebody/something (=to be in the situation where you are competing with someone else): · Hotels in the downtown area were in direct competition with each other.cut-throat competition (=very strong competition): · Weak management and cut-throat competition put the company out of business.
a competitive situation is one in which people try hard to do better than each other, for example in business or at school: · Amanda hated working in advertising - it was so competitive.highly/fiercely competitive (=very competitive): · The atmosphere at our school was highly competitive.· In such a fiercely competitive environment, it's inevitable that some companies will go out of business.
when two people, teams, or companies, especially when they are similarly successful or skilled, try to do better than each other over a long period of time: rivalry between: · Holmes says that the rivalry between the two companies has been exaggerated.fierce/intense rivalry (=very strong rivalry): · There was an intense rivalry between the Brazilian and Italian teams.sibling rivalry (=when brothers and sisters try to do better than each other): · Just because sibling rivalry is normal doesn't mean you should ignore it.
a situation in which people or organizations fight against each other to get power or control of something, and they are all very determined to win: battle/fight for: · The President's advisors were engaged in a fierce battle for power.· The fight for the construction contract is getting more bitter by the day.straight fight British (=a competition involving only two people or groups, especially after other people or groups have stopped taking part): · The Socialist candidate beat the Liberal in a straight fight.
a situation in which people or groups compete to get or achieve something: · He lost to Pfeiffer in last year's mayoral race.· the arms racerace for: · In the race for the White House, candidates will promise almost anything.the race is on (=the competition has started): · The race is on to find a cure for AIDS, and drug companies have already invested millions in research.
a situation or way of life in which everyone is competing strongly all the time, especially at work, with the result that they always feel worried and they do not enjoy their lives: · I'm tired of the rat race - I'm tired of never getting ahead.· Sunday I just try to relax because Monday morning, it's back to the rat race.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the story of a couple who quit the rat race
the rat race the unpleasant situation experienced by people working in big cities, when they continuously compete for success and have a lot of stress in their livesget out of/quit the rat race the story of a couple who quit the rat race the story of a couple who quit the rat race