to do or say something different from what a group you belong to does or says.

Two owners broke ranks and said they were against locking out the players.

Usage notes: often followed by with:

They decided to break ranks with the alliance and work independently for a solution.

the origin note doesn't make the meaning clear unless you explain "break" too--SL, 1/03

Etymology: based on the military meaning of break ranks (= to walk away from a straight row in which you and other soldiers have been standing)

• the minute back is turned
• the minute someone's back is turned
• the minute that
• the missionary position
• the moment of truth
• the more one thing happens the more
• the more one thing happens the more another thing happens
• the more the merrier
• the more the merrier.
• the more the more
• the more the more another thing happens
• the morning after
• the morning after the night before
• the mother from hell
• the mother of all
• the mother of all something
• the mot juste
• the movers and shakers
• the moving spirit
• then again
• the name of the game
• then and there
• the nature of the beast
• the new kid on the block
• the next rung on the ladder