Crossword Genius

Desert people struggle to survive (3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rat race

'struggle to survive' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'desert people' is the wordplay.
'desert' becomes 'rat' (abandon treacherously).
'people' becomes 'race' (people can mean a national group or race).
'rat'+'race'='RAT-RACE'

(Other definitions for rat race that I've seen before include "unhealthy competition" , "tough competition" , "Continual routine of highly competitive activity" , "Competitive struggle for wealth or power" , "Daily struggle to get on" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Globe and Mail.
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