(the ranks)
1the ranks — (in the armed forces) those who are not commissioned officers. → rank …
2rise from the ranks — 1. To work one s way up from private soldier to commissioned officer 2. To become a self made man or woman • • • Main Entry: ↑rise * * * rise from/through the ranks phrase to start in a junior rank or position in an organization and gradually… …
3swell the ranks — phrase to increase the number of people in a group Soldiers leave the army, only to end up swelling the ranks of the homeless. Thesaurus: club membership and joining a club, organization or grouphyponym to leave a club, organization or… …
4rise from the ranks — rise from/through the ranks ► to keep moving up from a low position in an organization to higher ones: »He joined the company in 2000 and has been rising through the ranks ever since. Main Entry: ↑rank …
5rise from/through the ranks — ► to keep moving up from a low position in an organization to higher ones: »He joined the company in 2000 and has been rising through the ranks ever since. Main Entry: ↑rank …
6rise through the ranks — rise from/through the ranks ► to keep moving up from a low position in an organization to higher ones: »He joined the company in 2000 and has been rising through the ranks ever since. Main Entry: ↑rank …
7join the ranks of something — join the ranks of (something) to become part of a large group. Thousands of young people join the ranks of the unemployed each summer when they leave school …
8join the ranks of — (something) to become part of a large group. Thousands of young people join the ranks of the unemployed each summer when they leave school …
9swell the ranks — to increase the number of people in a group Soldiers leave the army, only to end up swelling the ranks of the homeless …
10reduce to the ranks — To demote, for misconduct, to the condition of a private soldier • • • Main Entry: ↑reduce …