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A metaphor for competing to maintain relative standing, so greater effort brings little improvement in one's position.

noun phrase

Reveal word and examples

positional treadmill

The essay's positional treadmill appears when each neighbor buys more simply to keep pace.
Dictionary practice example.
A positional treadmill develops when every stall keeps purchasing more elaborate badges merely to preserve its place in the prestige ranking.
From Pleasure and Public Standing.
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