snakepit
/sneɪkpɪt/noun
1- a pit containing poisonous snakes蛇洞, （毒）蛇坑。
1.1
- figurative a scene of vicious behaviour or ruthless competition〈喻〉罪恶行为的现场; 残酷竞争的情景：
the literary snakepits of New York.
竞争激烈严酷的纽约文艺界。