rank Idiom, Proverb

close ranks

unite and fight together During the meeting the opposite side closed ranks and refused to compromise on any issue.

crank issue

a topic that causes anger, can of worms The Premier raised a crank issue and then went on holidays.

crank it up

turn up the volume, louder please Hey, Karen, crank up the radio. That's a great song.

crank out

make, write, manufacture Can you crank out a few jokes for our school newspaper?

play a prank on

arrange a surprise for you so people will laugh Ty played a prank on me. He left a message to call the President.

pull rank

assert one

turn your crank

interest you, inspire you Classical music turns his crank. He likes the great symphonies.

crank

1. to turn up the volume of a radio, etc
2. a mentally unstable person

crank an Eight Ball

to defecate

crank up

1. to increase, often with reference to the volume of music
2. to inject drugs

rank and file

Idiom(s): rank and file

Theme: PEOPLE

the members of a group, not the leaders. (Fixed order.)
• The rank and file will vote on the proposed contract tomorrow.
• The last contract was turned down by the rank and file last year.

crank sth out

Idiom(s): crank sth out

Theme: PRODUCTION

to produce something; to make something in a casual and mechanical way. (Slang.)
• John can crank a lot of work out in a single day.
• That factory keeps cranking out cars even though no one buys them.

close ranks behind

Idiom(s): close ranks (behind sb or sth)

Theme: SUPPORT

to support someone or something; to back someone or something.
• We will close ranks behind the candidate.
• She needs our help. Let's close ranks behind her and give her the support she needs.

close ranks|close|rank|ranks

v. phr. 1. To come close together in a line especially for fighting. The soldiers closed ranks and kept the enemy away from the bridge. 2. To stop quarreling and work together; unite and fight together. The Democrats and Republicans closed ranks to win the war. The leader asked the people to close ranks and plan a new school.

pull rank|pull|rank

v. phr., slang, informal To assert one's superior position or authority on a person of lower rank as in exacting a privilege or a favor. How come you always get the night duty? Phineas Leman pulled rank on me.

rank and file|file|rank

n. phr. Ordinary people; the regular membership of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. The general usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays. The secretary of the association sends letters annually to the rank and file.

break ranks

break ranks
Fall out of line or into disorder; also, fail to conform, deviate. For example, The recruits were warned that they must not break ranks, or Harry was told to adhere to the party platform and not break ranks. This idiom uses rank in the sense of “soldiers drawn up in line,” and the term originally referred to their falling into disarray. The figurative usage dates from the mid-1800s.

crank in

crank in
Factor in, integrate, as in We'll have to crank in both state and federal taxes when we make our plans. [Slang; 1960s]

crank letter

crank letter
Also, crank call. An irrational, fanatical, or hostile letter or telephone call. For example, The office was flooded with mail, including a lot of crank letters, or Harriet was upset enough by the crank calls to notify the police. This expression employs crank in the sense of “irrational person.” The first term dates from the mid-1900s, the variant from the 1960s.

rank

rank
In addition to the idiom beginning with rank, also see break ranks; close ranks; pull rank; rise through the ranks.

rise through the ranks

rise through the ranks
Also, rise from the ranks; come up through the ranks. Work one's way to the top, as in He's risen through the ranks, starting as a copyboy and ending up as senior editor. Originally this term was used for an officer who had worked his way up from the rank of private, a rare feat. It was being applied to nonmilitary advances by the mid-1800s. Also see come up, def. 4.

More Idioms/Phrases

ripe rise rise through the ranks risk risk life and limb river road road show

English Vocalbulary

rank 同义词