wheelbarrow race: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Informal, playful
Quick answer
What does “wheelbarrow race” mean?
A race in which participants form pairs, with one person holding the legs of another who walks on their hands.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A race in which participants form pairs, with one person holding the legs of another who walks on their hands.
A children's game or sports day event that mimics a wheelbarrow. Figuratively, any situation involving clumsy, uncoordinated, or comically inefficient shared effort.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use the same term.
Connotations
Similar connotations of fun, childhood, and physical comedy in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, known mainly from school contexts and general cultural knowledge.
Grammar
How to Use “wheelbarrow race” in a Sentence
[verb] + a wheelbarrow race (organise, have, hold)the wheelbarrow race + [verb] (began, ended, was won)[adjective] + wheelbarrow race (annual, silly, three-legged)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wheelbarrow race” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to wheelbarrow-race across the field.
- We'll be wheelbarrow racing after lunch.
American English
- Let's wheelbarrow race to the tree!
- The kids spent the afternoon wheelbarrow-racing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could be a metaphorical critique: 'Their project coordination was like a wheelbarrow race.'
Academic
Virtually never used in academic contexts.
Everyday
Used when recalling childhood games or describing chaotic, uncoordinated group efforts humorously.
Technical
Not a technical term in any field.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “wheelbarrow race”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “wheelbarrow race”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wheelbarrow race”
- Writing as 'wheel barrow race' (two words). 'Wheelbarrow' is one word.
- Using it to refer to an actual race involving wheelbarrows (e.g., pushing a garden wheelbarrow).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal game or event, typically for children at schools, fairs, or parties.
Typically, it is done in pairs. Multiple pairs can race against each other in a relay or group event.
In a wheelbarrow race, one person walks on their hands while being held at the legs. In a three-legged race, two people have adjacent legs tied together and must coordinate walking.
Yes, it can describe any situation where two or more parties are working together in a clumsy, uncoordinated, or comically inefficient manner.
A race in which participants form pairs, with one person holding the legs of another who walks on their hands.
Wheelbarrow race is usually informal, playful in register.
Wheelbarrow race: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwiːlˌbærəʊ ˌreɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwiːlˌbɛroʊ ˌreɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not a wheelbarrow race. (said to urge someone not to rush clumsily)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a WHEELbarrow with no wheel—just two people BARROWING (carrying) each other in a RACE. One is the 'wheelbarrow', the other pushes.
Conceptual Metaphor
COOPERATION IS A COMICAL RACE, INEFFICIENCY IS CHILDHOOD PLAY.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'wheelbarrow race' primarily associated with?