The rank and file are the ordinary members of a group, not the people in charge. A union, a political party, a company, an army: leaders make the speeches; the rank and file show up, pay, vote, and do the work.

The rank and file are是 a group一個團體裡 the ordinary members的一般成員，not the people in charge不是管事的人。 A union工會、a political party政黨、a company公司、an army軍隊：leaders領導人 make the speeches負責演講；the rank and file一般成員 show up出席、pay繳錢、vote投票、and do the work做事。

The phrase comes from old army life. Soldiers stood in ranks — rows, side by side — and files — lines, one behind another. The officers stood apart. So rank and file first named the common soldiers, and then, by stretch, the common members of any organisation.

The phrase這個片語 comes from來自 old army life舊時的軍旅生活。 Soldiers士兵 stood in ranks站成一排排的 rank——rows橫排，side by side肩並肩——and files和一列列的 file——lines直行，one behind another一個接在一個後面。 The officers軍官 stood apart站在另一邊。 So所以 rank and file first最早 named指的是 the common soldiers普通士兵，and then後來，by stretch再伸出去，指 of any organisation任何組織裡 the common members的一般成員。

You will see hyphens when it sits in front of a noun (rank-and-file members) and often none when it is the thing itself (the rank and file). Though actually, it is easy to hear rank and think of high position — but these are the people without that position.

when it sits in front of a noun當它放在名詞前面時 You你 will see hyphens會看到連字號（rank-and-file members），and when it is the thing itself而當它自己就是那個東西時 often none常常沒有（the rank and file）。 Though actually不過其實，it is easy to很容易 hear rank聽到 rank and think of就想到 high position高位——but但 these這些 are正是 without that position沒有那個位子 the people的人。