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Glite Dictionary
potato race

potato race

3.5
A race where people carry potatoes one at a time on a spoon
  • noun
  • /pəˈteɪtoʊ reɪs/
  • US
translation icon : carrera de papas
  • She won the potato race by balancing each potato perfectly on her spoon.

Examples

  • Every summer, the children look forward to the potato race at the school fair.

  • At the family picnic, the potato race caused plenty of laughter and friendly competition.

  • We organized a potato race for the school festival.

  • Did you enjoy the potato race at the fair?

  • At the family picnic, the potato race caused plenty of laughter and friendly competition.

  • Every summer, the children look forward to the potato race at the school fair.

  • We organized a potato race for the school festival.

Synonyms

race
vspotato race
∞ 1.0

A contest to see who is fastest or finishes first

is a novelty competition focused on moving objects one at a time

Surface Forms

potato race singular
potato races plural

Morphology

potato + race

The compound combines 'potato' (a tuber) and 'race' (a contest), so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer it is a contest involving potatoes. The exact rules (e.g., carrying potatoes one at a time) are specific, but the core meaning is directly compositional and cross-linguistically transparent.

Etymology

Potato race comes from a simple fair game where people run while carrying a potato on a spoon and try not to drop it. Because the picture is so clear—running and balancing the potato—the term means 'a fun race where people move potatoes one at a time'.