Meaning of rank and file in English:
rank and file
Translate rank and file into Spanish
noun
treated as plural the rank and fileThe ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders.
‘the rank and file of the Labour Party’- ‘rank-and-file members’
- ‘It cannot be said with certainty that such political moves benefited the rank and file.’
- ‘Panday has himself stated that this is a matter for the rank and file to decide.’
- ‘There is no burning desire by the rank and file members of a party to take part in the selection processes.’
- ‘At ministerial level, it usually does, but among the rank and file, it often does not.’
- ‘They have a different social position to ordinary rank and file union members.’
- ‘All of that has created a huge vacuum between them and the rank-and-file members.’
- ‘We have to maximise the turnout of ordinary rank and file members on the 19 June protest.’
- ‘The late and great John Smith and Donald Dewar were both in the rank and file.’
- ‘It is now essential to organise democratic debate among the rank and file to define our demands and our strategy.’
- ‘Since then, Johnston has been a rank-and-file member and is still active in the union as a shop steward.’
- ‘It remains to be seen whether the Institute's rank-and-file members support the policy.’
- ‘The pressure not to have a ballot came from the rank and file, not Scargill and the NUM union leadership.’
- ‘Until now I have discussed evangelical leaders rather than rank-and-file members.’
- ‘The rank-and-file member who's not inside the leadership is dependent on those leaders to lead.’
- ‘Most people in the church are rank-and-file members who do little more than attend worship services.’
- ‘As a result, those who occupy these roles may garner more support than rank-and-file church members.’
- ‘Both have advisory boards, individual donors and websites, but no rank-and-file members.’
- ‘He was widely loathed by rank-and-file members of the fire department.’
- ‘Clearly energy must be put into renewing and broadening connections between rank-and-file members.’
- ‘And he's now basically a rank-and-file member who has a lot of friends and will still have influence.’
other ranks, soldiers and NCOs, lower ranksordinary members
Origin
Referring to the ‘ranks’ and ‘files’ into which privates and non-commissioned officers form on parade.
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