IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishrank and file
Meaning: The non-management workers in a company or the non-leadership members of a political party.
Example: “The rank and file voted against the leadership's proposal.”
Origin: Military: a "rank" is a row of soldiers standing side by side, and a "file" is a line standing one behind another. "The rank and file" meant ordinary soldiers as opposed to officers from the 16th century, and later ordinary members of any organization.
More English idioms
- roll with the punches To adjust to bad fortune; to take a relaxed attitude towards life and its problems.
- see someone or something through rose-colored glasses To see something in a falsely good way; not to see something objectively.
- rub elbows with someone To associate with someone; to come into contact with someone.
- rub someone the wrong way To irritate someone.
- run amok To run around in a frenzied or disorderly way.
- run circles around someone To outperform someone by a wide margin; to be better than someone.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Cada macaco no seu galho Everyone should stick to their own place and business.
- Quem o feio ama, bonito lhe parece Love makes people see beauty where others don't.
- Keulen en Aken zijn niet op één dag gebouwd Great things take time.
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