rat race: the ambitious, fast-moving world of city professionals and business people rushing to advance their careers, earn more money and do better than their peers. It is very competitive, selfish, stressful, dog eat dog - but some people thrive on it.

join the fray: to join the race, get into the thick of the battle: to become involved in something that lots of other people are doing like the rat race or a game of football or a party.

A: "I'm opting out of the rat race."
B: "I didn't know you were ever in it."
A: "Of course I was. I live in London don't I, I've got a stressful job, and I have to deal with all that pressure to do better, get promoted, have more money, things like that. I'm telling you, the rat race is really tough."
B: "So what do you mean you're opting out?"
A: "Well, I've lost my job haven't I."
B: "In other words, you've dropped out of the rat race. The rats have rejected you. You aren't ratty enough."
A: "Its not that I couldn't cope or anything. Its just that working in publishing wasn't quite right for me. Maybe I should move to the countryside, buy a little farm, make yoghurt, something like that."
B: "Do you really think you'd enjoy that?"
A: "Of course!"
B: "But can you afford it now that you're not a rat?"
A: "We'll see. Perhaps I need to join the fray again for a little while."

(Read by Lizi Hesling and Joshua Chin)