the way of life of people living and working in a large city where people compete in an aggressive way with each other in order to be more successful, earn more money, etc.（大城市里人们追求成功、财富等的）疯狂竞争，激烈竞争
It’s very easy to get caught up in the rat race.被老鼠追赶很容易。
The novel is about a couple who get out of the rat race and buy a farm in France.这本小说是关于一对夫妇摆脱老鼠赛跑并在法国购买农场的。
Collocations Town and countryTown and country城镇与乡村Town城镇
live in a city/a town/an urban environment/(informal) a concrete jungle/the suburbs/shanty towns/slums住在城里／镇上／城区／混凝土丛林／郊区／棚户区／贫民窟
live(especially North American English) downtown/in the downtown area/(British English) in the city centre住在市中心
enjoy/like the hectic pace of life/the hustle and bustle of city life喜欢忙碌的生活节奏／城市生活的热闹
cope with the stress/pressure of urban life应对城市生活的压力
get caught up in the rat race卷入大城市里为财富、权力等的疯狂追逐中
prefer/seek the anonymity of life in a big city更喜欢／追求大城市里人与人互不相识的生活
be drawn by/resist the lure of the big city被大城市的诱惑所吸引；抵御大城市的诱惑
head for the bright lights (of the big city/New York)奔向（大城市／纽约）五光十色的生活
enjoy/love the vibrant/lively nightlife享受／喜爱充满生机的夜生活
have/be close to all the amenities拥有／紧靠各种便利设施
be surrounded by towering skyscrapers/a soulless urban sprawl被高耸入云的摩天大楼／毫无生气的城市拓展区所包围
use/travel by/rely on(British English) public transport/(North American English) public transportation使用／出行乘坐／依赖公共交通
put up with/get stuck in/sit in massive/huge/heavy/endless/constant traffic jams忍受／陷入大面积／严重的／没完没了的／持续的交通堵塞
tackle/ease/reduce/relieve/alleviate the heavy/severe traffic congestion处理／缓解严重的交通堵塞
be affected/choked/damaged by pollution受到污染的影响；被污染呛得透不过气；受到污染的伤害
Country乡村
live in a village/the countryside/an isolated area/a rural backwater/(informal) the sticks住在村里／乡村／偏僻的地区／落后的乡村／偏远的乡村地区
enjoy/like the relaxed/slower pace of life享受／喜欢悠闲／缓慢的生活节奏
enjoy/love/explore the great outdoors享受／喜欢／探索蓝天碧野
look for/find/get/enjoy a little peace and quiet寻找／找到／得到／享受一点宁静与安宁
need/want to get back/closer to nature需要／想要回去／接近大自然
be surrounded by open/unspoilt/picturesque countryside四周被空旷的／未被污染的／风景如画的乡村环绕
escape/quit/get out of/leave the rat race逃离／退出城市中你死我活的竞争
seek/achieve a better/healthy work-life balance寻求／达到工作与生活更好的／健康的平衡
downshift to a less stressful life选择压力较小的生活
seek/start a new life in the country在乡村寻求／开始一种新的生活
(British English, informal)up sticks/ (North American English, informal ) pull up stakes and move to/head for…
create/build/foster a strong sense of community树立／培养强烈的社群意识
depend on/be employed in/work in agriculture依赖／从事农业
live off/farm/work the land靠土地为生；耕种土地
tackle/address the problem of rural unemployment解决农村失业问题