to rat
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To forsake a losing side for the stronger party, as rats are said to forsake un- seaworthy ships. One who deserts his party, as a "blackleg" during a strike, is sometimes called a rat.
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 “to rat” mean?
To forsake a losing side for the stronger party, as rats are said to forsake un- seaworthy ships. One who deserts his party, as a "blackleg" during a strike, is sometimes called a rat.
Is “to rat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.