rut

Everyday

1. A deep line in soft ground made by wheels. tree →
2. (idiom) A boring way of life or habit that is hard to change: "stuck in a rut". tree →
3. (animals) The season when male deer and some other animals fight and look for mates; (verb) to be in this season. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, a muddy track has ruts from tractor wheels. "Stuck in a rut" is a very common phrase meaning life feels boring and the same every day. In nature lessons, in autumn male red deer roar and fight in the rut. Phrases: stuck in a rut, get out of a rut, deep ruts, the rutting season.

Examples

• The tractor left deep ruts in the muddy field. tree →
• My bike wheel got stuck in a rut. tree →
• Dad felt stuck in a rut, so he took up drumming. tree →
• Let's try something new to get out of this rut. tree →
• In the autumn rut, stags roar and lock antlers. tree →
• The path was full of ruts and puddles. tree →
• A CARTER was driving a wagon along a country lane, when the wheels sank down deep into a rut. tree →

Note

Past form: rutted (double t). "In a rut" and "stuck in a rut" are the common patterns. Adjective: rutted (a rutted track).