sack race

American  

noun

1. a race in which each contestant jumps ahead while their legs are confined together in a sack.

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sack race British  

noun

1. a race in which the competitors' legs and often bodies are enclosed in sacks

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Other Word Forms

• sack racer noun
• sack racing noun

Etymology

Origin of sack race

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

It’s not worth it, because literature, as Jim Harrison often said, is not a sack race.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2020

In recent years, the process has more often resembled a three-legged sack race where stumbles and falls are the rule.

From Washington Times • Aug. 24, 2016

A hard-to-call sack race So what are the odds on sackmcclaren.com going live by mid-September?

From The Guardian • Aug. 1, 2015

Here she cheers alongside Prince Philip and Prince Charles as competitors participate in a sack race at the Braemar Gathering in Aberdeenshire.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2012

I'm told it's not as glamorous as it sounds, but in terms of fun for the entire family, I'm fairly confident that it beats the sack race at the annual IBM picnic.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris