flat race
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A race on the "flat" or level ground without obstacles, as opposed to a steeplechase, or "over the sticks.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “flat race” mean?
A race on the "flat" or level ground without obstacles, as opposed to a steeplechase, or "over the sticks.
Is “flat race” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.