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

Events include the wooden pillar throw, sack race and shin-kicking, where players pad their legs with straw and attempt to force their opponent to the ground.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

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

But I owe Clarke an apology for having him to win the sack race last August.

From The Guardian • May 20, 2013

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