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rut

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get in(to) a rut

To become seemingly trapped or stuck in a mundane, non-changing pattern of life, work, and/or personal behavior. I had so many ambitions when I first graduated from college, but now I feel like I've gotten into a rut. We're getting in a rut—let's move abroad for the summer and shake things up!

See also: get, rut

be (stuck) in a rut

To become seemingly trapped or stuck in a mundane, non-changing pattern of life, work, and/or personal behavior. I had so many ambitions when I first graduated from college, but now I feel like I'm in a rut. We're stuck in a rut—let's move abroad for the summer and shake things up!

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*in a rut

Fig. in a type of boring habitual behavior. (As when the wheels of a buggy travel in the ruts worn into the ground by other buggies making it easiest to go exactly the way all the other buggies have gone before. *Typically: be ~; get ~.) My life has gotten into a rut. I try not to get into a rut.

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(stuck) in a rut

Fig. kept in an established way of living or working that never changes. David felt like he was stuck in a rut, so he went back to school. Anne was tired of being in a rut, so she moved to Los Angeles.

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be (stuck) in a rut

to do the same things all the time so that you become bored, or to be in a situation where it is impossible to make progress At forty my life was in a rut, so I gave up work and travelled to India. It's clear the economy is still stuck in a rut.

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in a rut

In a settled or established habit or course of action, especially a boring one. For example, We go to the seashore every summer-we're in a rut, or After ten years at the same job she says she's in a rut. This expression alludes to having a wheel stuck in a groove in the road. [Early 1800s]

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