rank

break rank (or ranks)

1 (of soldiers or police officers) fail to remain in line.

2 fail to maintain solidarity.

close ranks

1 (of soldiers or police officers) come closer together in a line.

2 unite in order to defend common interests.

❷ 2014Daily Telegraph The media handling of the affair echoes the attitude of politicians, who, on both left and right, have largely closed ranks and professed outrage at the invasion of the president's privacy.

pull rank take unfair advantage of your seniority or privileged position.

rank and file the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders.

☞ The notion behind the expression is of the 'ranks' and 'files' into which privates and non-commissioned officers form on parade.

rise through (or from) the ranks

1 (of a private or a non-commissioned officer) receive a commission.

2 advance from a lowly position in an organization by your own efforts.