介绍:
1)The rat race
-The banking business is a rat race, and many people leave due to stress
-Gwen dropped out of the rat race and moved to the countryside to produce wine
-Getting research grants is a rat race.
Definition: The rat race is the highly competitive and stressful world of work and business.
Etymology: In an analogy to the modern city, many rats in a single maze expend a lot of effort running around, but ultimately achieve nothing (meaningful) either collectively or individually. This is often used in reference to work, particularly excessive or competitive work; in general terms, if one works too much, one is in the rat race
2) A raw deal
-After Danny felt he got a raw deal at work he quit
-World War 1 was started because Germany and Bulgaria felt they got a raw deal on previous wars they had won
-The Air Traffic controllers went on strike because they felt they got a raw deal
Definition: If you think that you got a raw deal, you think you weren't treated fairly or as well as other people.
3)A slap on the wrist
-People were outraged when the murderer got away with only a slap on the wrist
-I thought i would get a slap on the wrist for speeding, but I got fined $500
-People thought Susan only got a slap on the wrist for her crime because she was a woman.
Definition: If someone gives you a slap on the wrist, they give you a mild punishment for making a mistake or doing something wrong.
