rat

Everyday

1. A rodent like a large mouse, with a long thin tail, sharp teeth and grey or brown fur. tree →
2. (informal) A nasty, mean or disloyal person. tree →
3. Rat on someone (informal): tell on someone. tree →
4. Rats!: a mild word said when something goes wrong. tree →

In the lessons

In science, rats are mammals and rodents; they are clever and can learn mazes, and some are pets (fancy rats). In health and safety lessons: wild rats can carry germs and diseases, so don't touch them, keep food covered and bins closed; wash hands after handling pets. In history, fleas on rats spread the plague. In stories rats can be villains (the Pied Piper) or clever friends. Phrases: smell a rat (suspect a trick), like a drowned rat (soaking wet), rat race, pet rat.

Examples

• A rat ran across the alley. tree →
• My friend has two pet rats called Salt and Pepper. tree →
• Keep the bin lid closed so rats can't get in. tree →
• Don't touch wild rats — they can carry disease. tree →
• Rats can learn their way through a maze. tree →
• I came home from the rain looking like a drowned rat. tree →
• «Rats! I forgot my homework.» tree →
• The story's detective smelled a rat. tree →

Note

Countable: a rat, rats. Rats are bigger than mice and have thicker tails. Don't confuse with «rate». «Smell a rat» means to think something is a trick.

In Jewish tradition

The rat is among the creeping things that are unclean to eat.

Interpretation. The tradition counts it among the forbidden animals. It is part of the laws of clean and unclean.

Note

Countable: a rat, rats. Rats are bigger than mice and have thicker tails. Don't confuse with «rate». «Smell a rat» means to think something is a trick.