Hamsterrad

 

 Hamsterrad on German Wikipedia

 

From Hamster (“hamster”) +‎ Rad (“wheel”).

• IPA^(key): [ˈhamstɐˌʁaːt]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aːt, -at

Hamsterrad n (strong, genitive Hamsterrades or Hamsterrads, plural Hamsterräder, diminutive Hamsterrädchen n)

1. (literal) hamster wheel (circular cage for a small rodent, which rotates vertically as the animal runs at the bottom)

   Synonym: Laufrad

2. (figurative) hamster wheel, rat race (situation of hectic, repetitive activity conducted under pressure and with little sense of fulfilment or progress)
   • 2022 June 30 (last accessed), permovi-coaching.de‎^[1]:

     Von innen sieht ein Hamsterrad auch aus wie eine Karriereleiter!

     From the inside, a hamster wheel also looks like a career ladder!

• “Hamsterrad” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Hamsterrad” in Duden online