the rank and file
Definition of the rank and file
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.
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Word by Word Definitions
: luxuriantly or excessively vigorous in growth
: offensively gross or coarse : foul
: grown too large
: row, series
: a row of people
: a line of soldiers ranged side by side in close order
: to arrange in lines or in a regular formation
: to determine the relative position of : rate
: to take precedence of
: a tool usually of hardened steel with cutting ridges for forming or smoothing surfaces especially of metal
: a shrewd or crafty person
: to rub, smooth, or cut away with or as if with a file
: defile, corrupt
: to arrange in order for preservation and reference
: to place among official records as prescribed by law
: to send (copy) to a newspaper
: a device (such as a folder, case, or cabinet) by means of which papers are kept in order
: roll, list
: a collection of papers or publications usually arranged or classified
: single file
: any of the rows of squares that extend across a chessboard from one player's side to the other player's side
: to march or proceed in single file
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