three-legged race

American  

noun

1. a race among a number of paired contestants, each contestant having one leg tied to the adjacent leg of their partner.

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three-legged race British  

noun

1. a race in which pairs of competitors run with their adjacent legs tied together

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Etymology

Origin of three-legged race

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

At the 1992 Town Picnic in Chernobyl, Ukraine, the three-legged race was won for the first time by a single person.

From Washington Post • Sep. 23, 2020

Together Dern’s and Witherspoon’s performance sank their claws into the script and ran away with the show, three-legged race style.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2019

“It’s a three-legged race with the contestants going in opposite directions.”

From New York Times • Jul. 14, 2018

MasterChef The young chefs attempt to bake while in a three-legged race.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2014

Years later, they laughed to see the girls, Mona and Callie, in a three-legged race.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen