# rat run

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rat-run
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A small, usually minor road used by a significant amount of traffic as a short cut or to avoid congestion on more major routes.

## Examples

- Drivers use our quiet street as a rat run to avoid traffic.
- The local council plans to close the narrow lane because it has become a dangerous rat run for commuters.
- Although the neighborhood was designed for local access, it has evolved into a persistent rat run that frustrates residents during the morning rush hour.

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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.