🗓️ Idiom: Rise Through the Ranks (verb)
💬 Meaning
- To advance step by step in a company or organization.
- To earn promotions over time through hard work and experience.
🧠 Example Sentences
- She started as an intern and rose through the ranks to become a senior manager.
- Many CEOs have risen through the ranks after years of dedication.
- He hopes to rise through the ranks by showing strong leadership skills.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom comes from the military, where “ranks” refer to levels of position or authority. Soldiers who performed well could “rise through the ranks,” meaning they were promoted to higher levels. The phrase was later adopted by businesses and other organizations.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
After ten years at the company, Maria finally _______ and became a director.
Answer
rose through the ranks
2. Multiple choice:
What does “rise through the ranks” mean?
a) To leave a company suddenly
b) To move up step by step in an organization
c) To start a new business alone
Answer
b) To move up step by step in an organization
3. Change the sentence using “rise through the ranks”:
“He became a manager after many years of hard work and promotions.”
Answer
He rose through the ranks after many years of hard work.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
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Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
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