(go/rise) through the ranks
Meaning(s)
1. continue to progress to more prominent positions within a company or organization
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
he/she rose through the ranks to become boss
Analysis
To 'go through the ranks' or 'rise through the ranks' means to begin a career with very little power or authority and to gain more over time. This is a popular idiomatic expression used in both social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The fans of the football club had a special connection to David because he was a local lad who had come up through the ranks of the youth teams before hitting the big time.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Jack may have started at an entry level position within the company, but due to his talent, it wasn't long before he began moving swiftly through the ranks.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- The Board decided to promote Helen to the position because she had risen through the ranks of the company and knew the ropes, whereas the other candidate would have been an outside appointment.