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.

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Congressional Republicans could find it harder to keep their members behind Trump's bill with Musk providing rhetorical – and, perhaps financial – air for those who break ranks.

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Greene is not the only Trump ally to break ranks with the president's controversial bill.

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Yoon’s party holds 108 seats, meaning impeachment will require eight or more of them to break ranks.

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A vote study by CQ Roll Call found her the second-most likely House Democrat to break ranks.

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If those numbers turn out to be understated - if Cheney is right and there are shy Republicans who will ultimately break ranks and vote Democratic - Harris’s path to the White House would become much easier.

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break point breakroom

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