Example
“Poor sleep hurts focus, worse focus means more overtime, and more overtime kills sleep — a vicious circle.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
virtuous circle
CEFR C1a beneficial loop in which each success makes the next success more likely
circle back
CEFR B1to return to a topic or person later, after other things have happened
square the circle
CEFR C1to try to resolve a problem widely regarded as extremely difficult or impossible
domino effect
CEFR B1a chain reaction in which one event triggers a series of similar events
rat race
CEFR B1the exhausting, competitive struggle to keep up at work and get ahead
burn the candle at both ends
CEFR B2to work so hard and long that you exhaust yourself
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.