rat house
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A mental hospital.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
Australian English
Examples
I've had enough, mate. A bloody man is starting to get the Joe Blakes and the dry retches and if a man keeps this up I'm sure to finish in the rat house with the DTs at this rate.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “rat house” mean?
A mental hospital.
Is “rat house” formal or informal?
rat house is generally slang.