# hamster wheel

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hamster-wheel
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To cycle fruitlessly.

## Examples

- I feel like I am stuck on a hamster wheel at work.
- He realized he was on a hamster wheel, working long hours every day but never actually finishing his projects.
- The constant cycle of repetitive tasks left her feeling trapped on a hamster wheel, unable to make any meaningful progress toward her long-term goals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.