close ranks
to move closer together in a military formation. The soldiers closed ranks and marched on the enemy in tight formation.
close ranks
(behind someone or something) to support someone or something; to back someone or something. We will close ranks behind the party's nominee. Let's close ranks behind her and give her the support she needs.
close ranks (with someone)
to join with someone in a cause, or agreement. We can fight this menace only if we close ranks. Let's all close ranks with Ann and adopt her suggestions.
come up through the ranks
Fig. to rise to a position of leadership by working up through the sequence of lower positions. He came up through the ranks to become a corporate executive. The general came up through the ranks. There is no other way to become a general.
pull rank (on someone)
Fig. to assert one's rank, authority, or position over someone when making a request or giving an order. Don't pull rank on me! I don't have to do what you say! When she couldn't get her way politely, she pulled rank and really got some action.
rank above someone
to outrank someone; to rank higher than someone. I think that I rank above you, so I will sit by the window. The boss ranks above everyone and demands that everyone recognize the fact.
rank among something
to be included in a particular group. In my opinion, Kelly ranks among the very best. Tom ranks among the most widely known of the contemporary writers.
rank and file
1. Lit. regular soldiers, not the officers. I think there is low morale among the rank and file, sir. The rank and file usually do exactly as they are told.
2. Fig. the ordinary members of a group, not the leaders. The rank and file will vote on the proposed contract tomorrow. The last contract was turned down by the rank and file last year.
rank as something
to have a particular rank; to serve in a particular rank. She ranks as a fine pianist in my book. Don ranks as the top economist of the day.
rank on someone
Sl. to attack someone verbally; to gossip about someone. Please stop ranking on my family! Tom keeps ranking on Jennifer, and she is really mad about it.
rank someone among something
to judge someone to be essentially equal to a specific group of people. I don't rank Kelly among the best drivers in the world. Our committee ranked Fred among the best of the current applicants.
rank someone or something as something
to assign a particular rank to someone or something. I have to rank Sally as number one. She's the best. Mary ranked the chocolate as the best she had ever eaten.
rank someone (out)
1. Sl. to annoy someone. He really ranks me out. What a pest!
2. Sl. to chastise someone. She ranked him out for being a coward. I ranked out the whole gang, but good!
rank someone with someone
to judge someone to be equal with someone. Would you rank Tom with Donna? Fred ranked himself with Tom when it came to diving.
rank with someone or something
to be equal to someone or something. Do you think Sarah ranks with Albert? No one ranks with Albert. The food at that restaurant ranks with that of the best places in New York.
rise from the ranks
Fig. to achieve position or office, having worked up from the masses. He rose from the ranks to become president of the company. Most of the officers of the company have risen from the ranks.
pull rank
to use the power of your job or position to make someone do what you want Some of the seniors in our school pull rank on the younger kids and force them to run errands for them.
break ranks
to do or say something different from what a group you belong to does or says
Two owners broke ranks and said they were against locking out the players. Usage notes: often followed by with: They decided to break ranks with the alliance and work independently for a solution.
Etymology: based on the military meaning of break ranks (to walk away from a straight row in which you and other soldiers have been standing)
close ranks
to show support for other members of your group Dale urged his former rivals to close ranks behind his candidacy.
Etymology: based on the military meaning of close ranks (to form a straight row with other soldiers)
join the ranks of something
to become part of a larger group or organization Their country will join the ranks of the most developed nations of the world in four or five years.
break ranks
to publicly show that you disagree with a group of which you are a member (often + with ) Junior officers were said to be prepared to break ranks with the leadership.
close ranks
if members of a group close ranks, they publicly show that they support each other, especially when people outside of the group are criticizing them
Usage notes: If soldiers close ranks, they move closer together so that it is more difficult to go past them.
In the past, the party would have closed ranks around its leader and defended him loyally against his critics. join the ranks of something
to become part of a large group Thousands of young people join the ranks of the unemployed each summer when they leave school.
See Join the club!, enter the fraypull rank
to use the power that your position gives you over someone in order to make them do what you want (often + on ) He doesn't have the authority to pull rank on me any more. She was boss of forty or more people but, to her credit, she never once pulled rank.
the rank and file
the ordinary members of an organization and not its leaders The party leadership seems to be losing the support of the rank and file.
See pull rankbreak ranks
Fall out of line or into disorder; also, fail to conform, deviate. For example, The recruits were warned that they must not break ranks, or Harry was told to adhere to the party platform and not break ranks. This idiom uses rank in the sense of "soldiers drawn up in line," and the term originally referred to their falling into disarray. The figurative usage dates from the mid-1800s.
close ranks
Unite, work together, as in The members decided to close ranks and confront the president. This expression, dating from the late 1700s, comes from the military, where it denotes bringing troops into close order so there are no gaps in the fighting line. (A slightly earlier form was close lines.) It has been used figuratively since the mid-1800s.
pull rank
Use one's higher status to compel obedience or obtain privileges, as in She hated pulling rank in the office, but sometimes it was necessary. This term comes from the military. [c. 1920]
rank and file
Followers, the general membership, as in This new senator really appeals to the rank and file in the labor unions. This expression comes from the military, where a rank denotes soldiers standing side by side in a row, and file refers to soldiers standing behind one another. The first recorded figurative use of this term was in 1860.
rise through the ranks
Also,
rise from the ranks;
come up through the ranks. Work one's way to the top, as in
He's risen through the ranks, starting as a copyboy and ending up as senior editor. Originally this term was used for an officer who had worked his way up from the rank of private, a rare feat. It was being applied to nonmilitary advances by the mid-1800s. Also see
come up, def. 4.