Rug-rat race refers to the intense pressure put on children to achieve early educational success, particularly as a prerequisite¹ for eventually getting into an elite² university. 

“幼儿竞赛”指的是为了实现早期教育的成功而给孩子带来的紧张压力，特别是将这种成功作为最终考进名牌大学的首要条件。

 

Rug rat是俚语，指幼儿，在地上爬来爬去的宝宝，像不像“地毯老鼠”？而rat race指激烈的竞争，这个用法就是这样组合而来的。