break ranks
The phrase "break ranks" originates from military terminology and is now used more broadly to describe acts of dissent or nonconformity within any group.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)To publicly disagree with or act against one's group or organization.
Example
- Several members of the party decided to break ranks and vote against the proposed bill.
C1Military
(technical)To leave the designated order or formation in a military unit.
Example
- The soldier was reprimanded for breaking ranks during the parade.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "break ranks":
break awaybreak withbreak coverbreak rigorbreak the moldbreak ingo roguego off the reservationbreak offbreak outjump shipbranch offpart companycross the aislebreak apartbranch outgo their separate wayspart waysbreak badbreak upbreak throughbreak intoclose rankssplit upcross the floorbroke offkick over the tracesjoin out