rank and file
the ordinary members of an organisation
TRANSLATION
rank and file = die Belegschaft, das Fußvolk, die Basis --- GOOGLE INDEX rank and file: approximately 1,500,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
UPS Urges Vote by RANK AND FILE
(New York Times - News Headline)
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The multi-billion-pound tax rises set out by Mr Osborne exacerbated doubts among the Tory RANK AND FILE about the party leadership’s long-standing commitment to increase spending on the health service and overseas aid in real terms.
(Financial Times)
(New York Times - News Headline)
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The multi-billion-pound tax rises set out by Mr Osborne exacerbated doubts among the Tory RANK AND FILE about the party leadership’s long-standing commitment to increase spending on the health service and overseas aid in real terms.
(Financial Times)
Did you
know?
rank and file
noun
- the ordinary workers in a company or the ordinary members of an organisation, and not the leaders
adjective
- rank-and-file
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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Rank and file was originally a military expression that refers to soldiers standing side by side in a row (rank) and those standing behind one another (file). It is meanwhile used to describe the ordinary members of any organisation, be it a company, a political party or a workers union. The figurative sense was first recorded around 1860.
Other military expressions that have found their way into the rank and file of the population include:
- about face = The reversal of a position or decision. This stems from the act of abruptly turning and facing the opposite direction while in formation (The boss agreed to give us half the day off, but then he did an about face.)
- AWOL = Acronym for Absent Without Leave, meaning to leave service or a post without permission. In a figurative sense, to be missing (Bob has been AWOL since this morning. Call him on his mobile phone.)
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"The support of the rank and file is required in order to make this strategy a success."
noun
- the ordinary workers in a company or the ordinary members of an organisation, and not the leaders
adjective
- rank-and-file
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
Rank and file was originally a military expression that refers to soldiers standing side by side in a row (rank) and those standing behind one another (file). It is meanwhile used to describe the ordinary members of any organisation, be it a company, a political party or a workers union. The figurative sense was first recorded around 1860.
Other military expressions that have found their way into the rank and file of the population include:
- about face = The reversal of a position or decision. This stems from the act of abruptly turning and facing the opposite direction while in formation (The boss agreed to give us half the day off, but then he did an about face.)
- AWOL = Acronym for Absent Without Leave, meaning to leave service or a post without permission. In a figurative sense, to be missing (Bob has been AWOL since this morning. Call him on his mobile phone.)
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"The support of the rank and file is required in order to make this strategy a success."
