rat race
n. uncountablen. the busy and stressful way of life in modern society where people compete for money and power. You use this to describe a job or lifestyle that feels exhausting and never-ending.
n. a frantic and competitive way of life, especially within a corporate or professional environment, in which people compete for wealth or status. Usually implies a sense of futility or lack of personal fulfilment.
He left the rat race to open a small farm.
After twenty years in corporate law, she finally decided to quit the rat race and spend more time with her family.
The urban rat race often forces individuals to prioritise career advancement over mental health, leading to widespread burnout in high-pressure industries.
Commonly used with the verbs 'quit', 'escape', or 'join'; typically takes 'the' as a singular collective concept.