Meaning of caucus race | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The competitive process in which a political party selects their candidate, especially presidential; a primary election via caucus.
   US, idiomatic
2. A laborious but arbitrary and futile activity; an activity that amounts to running around in a circle, expending great energy but not accomplishing anything.
   idiomatic
3. A political competition; the game of campaigning and one-upmanship to get votes and be elected.
   US, idiomatic
4. A win-win system; a positive system in which everybody wins.

Equivalents

Examples

“Mr. Gingrich, who is now the minority whip, announced last⟳ week that he had rounded up more than 100 commitments from House Republicans for the caucus race⟳ to come⟳ after the election next year.”

“[…] she was backing southern moderate John Spratt in his strong but unsuccessful caucus race⟳ for Budget Committee chairman.”

“With the dominant figure⟳ in U.S. politics forced to the sidelines for—perhaps—the rest⟳ of the year, the national political situation last⟳ week began to take⟳ on the unreal air of the Dodo's caucus race⟳.”

“The American economic system is beginning to resemble⟳ the caucus race⟳ in Alice in Wonderland. Is it not something of a contradiction to cut⟳ taxes to facilitate the resurgence of buying power that will increase⟳ the demand⟳ for appliances and, especially, vehicles —and at the same time enforce a reduction in demand⟳ for the petroleum fuels that must drive⟳ the cars and power the machines that will manufacture⟳ the appliances?”

“A more free and easy attitude prevailed in selecting research⟳ topics than today, when the funding squeeze⟳ keeps most academic scientists in a tight caucus race⟳ of grant getting and paper production that precludes forays into risky serendipitous pursuits.”

“Encourage⟳ caucus race⟳ resourcing: […] That is, the resourcing of the players would need⟳ to resemble⟳ the “caucus race⟳” in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland – a race⟳ in which all the contestants won prizes. The best-known institutional arrangements for resourcing all legitimate comers in a regulatory system is the “subsidiary” doctrine […] Resources are not necessarily to be equated with cash: and indeed an alternative way of structuring a “caucus race⟳” is for government to promote⟳ the transfer⟳ of talent among different institutions […]”

CEFR level