Etymology: from The Rake's Progress (1735), series of engravings by William Hogarth died 1764 English artist
: a reckless course : a steady deterioration
while a painful policy of deflation is being pursued in some countries, the inflationary rake's progress is going merrily on — Irish Statesman
* * *
rake's progress,
a downhill course: »
Compared with my rake's progress of the first three weeks, this week has been exasperatingly slow (Observer).
╂[< The Rake's Progress, a series of engravings by the English artist William Hogarth, 1697-1764, showing the progressive deterioration of a rake]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.