the pecking order

pecking order

The hierarchy within a group or organization. There's definitely a pecking order in this company, and you're not going to do well if you don't know your place.
See also: order, peck
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the pecking order

COMMON The pecking order in a group is the order of importance of the people or things within that group. Offices came in 29 sizes, according to your place in the company's pecking order. The British Medical Association issued a warning that doctors may be forced to draw up a pecking order of operations. Note: When groups of hens are kept together, a `pecking order' tends to form. This means that a stronger bird can peck a weaker bird without being pecked in return.
See also: order, peck
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a/the ˈpecking order

(informal, often humorous) the way a group is organized, with some members being more important or powerful than others: You don’t get a company car unless you’re pretty high up in the pecking order.This expression was first used by a scientist in the 1920s after studying groups of birds; he noticed there was an order when birds were feeding, with the strongest birds eating first.
See also: order, peck
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a/the pecking order
  • pecking order
  • definitely
  • definitely not
  • Definitely not!
  • no doubt about it
  • at the bottom of the food chain
  • order
  • the low man on the totem pole
  • the lowest rung on the ladder
References in periodicals archive
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): What will be the pecking order in the second Cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi remain a matter of speculation with the entry of Amit Shah as a minister.
Will there be a change in the Modi Cabinet pecking order?
Those at the top of the pecking order will be at the centre, which is where the best feeding is.
Getting a bird's eye view as nature's pecking order plays out
He has scored once in the Premier League since August and the likes of Bernard, 26, and Ademola Lookman and Richarlison - both 21 - are now ahead of him the pecking order.
Walcott is out in the c-old
Asamoah spent the entire duration as an unused substitute and after the match head coach Kwesi Appiah explained the Inter Milan ace was down the pecking order.
Italian media shocked over Kwadwo Asamoah snub
But he has fallen down the pecking order this term, especially since Santiago Solari replaced Julen Lopetegui.
Winners and losers from Zinedine Zidane's return to Real Madrid; The Frenchman is back at the Bernabeu after the Los Blancos hierarchy decided to sack Santiago Solari
He's quite far down the pecking order and it will be between Lucas Joao, who scored twice against Bristol City, and Steven Fletcher for who gets the nod upfront.
Sheffield Wednesday v Boro; at HILLSBOROUGH TONIGHT (7.45 kick-off)
Support has been found for the Pecking order theory for French Firms (Atiyet, 2012), Spanish SMEs (Mira and Garcia, 2003), Chinese firms (Chen, 2004; Tong and Green, 2005) and Brazilian firms (De Medeiross and Daher, 2004).
Why Do Firms Borrow? Is it a Need or Simply a Pursuit of Optimal Debt Ratio?
Indeed, most of us have to accept our places in the pecking order, from the rich to the cold and hungry.
O, Little Town of Birkenhead ..
Thrown into the current mix are arguments about where the contractor fits in the pecking order of secured creditors.
Court filings
The 31-year-old is wanted by the Championship side on a month's loan, and with Jamaal Lascelles ahead of Williamson in the pecking order and Paul Dummett able to play centre-back, the Magpies are happy to let the long-serving player out for some game time.
Willo is all set to join Wolves
But he has slipped down the pecking order and after being handed a clean slate under head coach Steve McClaren has not unable to force his way into the team.
Newcastle United centre-back Mike Williamson set to join Wolves on loan; Magpies defender has slipped down the pecking order at St James' Park and asked to be sent out on loan
And, despite its huge success on both sides of the Atlantic, playing the lead role in the science fiction show Star Trek: The Next Generation put him way down the pecking order, at least in Hollywood.
The land of the free? You've yet to make it so, Stewart tells America
Previous studies on capital structure in Pakistan have reported evidence in support of the pecking order theory.
Is negative profitability-leverage relation the only support for the pecking order theory in case of Pakistani firms?
Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes has revealed he would consider going back to Brazil when his contract with the north London club runs out next summer after falling down the pecking order at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham Benchwarmer Open To Prospect Of Brazilian Move