the rank and file

the rank and file
1 the officers and the rank and file: OTHER RANKS, soldiers, NCOs, lower ranks; men, troops.
2 a speech appealing to the rank and file: THE (COMMON) PEOPLE, the proletariat, the masses, the populace, the commonality, the commonalty, the third estate, the plebeians; the hoi polloi, the rabble, the riff-raff, the great unwashed; informal the proles, the plebs.
rank

* * *

1 : the people in the army, navy, air force, etc., who are not officers
2 : the members of a group or organization who are not leaders

The rank and file is/are unhappy with the chairman's decision.

the rank and file of the union

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Main Entry:rank and file

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • (the) rank and file — the rank and file UK US noun all the members of a group or organization except the leaders or officers The union’s message is popular with the rank and file. Thesaurus: group members and describing group membershyponym Derived Word: rank and file …   Useful english dictionary

  • (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 …   New idioms dictionary

  • the rank and file — UK / US noun all the members of a group or organization except the leaders or officers The union s message is popular with the rank and file. Derived word: rank and file adjective rank and file members of the party …   English dictionary

  • rank and file — ˌrank and ˈfile noun the rank and file the ordinary members of a union, who are not union officials: • So far, leaders are maintaining discipline among the rank and file. rank and file adjective [only before a noun] : • rank and file union… …   Financial and business terms

  • rank-and-file — ˌrank and ˈfile noun the rank and file the ordinary members of a union, who are not union officials: • So far, leaders are maintaining discipline among the rank and file. rank and file adjective [only before a noun] : • rank and file union… …   Financial and business terms

  • rank and file — {n. phr.} Ordinary people; the regular membership of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. * /The general usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays./ * /The secretary of the association sends letters annually… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rank and file — {n. phr.} Ordinary people; the regular membership of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. * /The general usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays./ * /The secretary of the association sends letters annually… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rank and file — n the rank and file the ordinary members of an organization rather than the leaders ▪ The rank and file of the party had lost confidence in the leadership. >rank and file adj [only before noun] ▪ the rank and file members of the trade union …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • rank´-and-file´ — rank and file, 1. a) common soldiers, not officers, especially those with the rank of corporal or below; ranks. b) the people in a business, labor union, political party, or other institution or group, who are not a part of the management. »Labor …   Useful english dictionary

  • rank and file, the — noun all the members of a group or organization except the leaders or officers: The union s message is popular with the rank and file. ╾ ,rank and file adjective …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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