Bring up the rear
verb
To move behind others.
In the hiking trip, older people with slower pace usually bring up the rear.
Often appears as...
- soldiers bring up the rear
- hikers bring up the rear
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
Move forward while supporting the rest.
In the army march, a few soldiers are assigned to bring up the rear and ensure everyone is moving forward.
Often appears as...
- support team brings up the rear
- back-end support brings up the rear
Usage tips
Idiomatic, Military
verb
To be the last one in a competition.
In the marathon, he was bringing up the rear because he was the slowest.
Often appears as...
- bringing up the rear in a horse race
- bringing up the rear in a contest
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
To move behind others.
In the hiking trip, older people with slower pace usually bring up the rear.
Often appears as...
- soldiers bring up the rear
- hikers bring up the rear
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
Move forward while supporting the rest.
In the army march, a few soldiers are assigned to bring up the rear and ensure everyone is moving forward.
Often appears as...
- support team brings up the rear
- back-end support brings up the rear
Usage tips
Idiomatic, Military
verb
To be the last one in a competition.
In the marathon, he was bringing up the rear because he was the slowest.
Often appears as...
- bringing up the rear in a horse race
- bringing up the rear in a contest
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Position
Often refers to actual physical location, being the last in line.
During the parade, the clowns entertained the crowd while bringing up the rear.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Negative
The phrase isn't always negative; it can just state a fact, without implying failure.
Even though he was bringing up the rear, his fans cheered him on enthusiastically.
Pro Tip 3/3Idiomatic Usage
Understand it's an idiom; don't interpret it literally, like physically moving someone's rear.
When we reached the summit, I realized I was bringing up the rear of our group.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Position
Often refers to actual physical location, being the last in line.
During the parade, the clowns entertained the crowd while bringing up the rear.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Negative
The phrase isn't always negative; it can just state a fact, without implying failure.
Even though he was bringing up the rear, his fans cheered him on enthusiastically.
Pro Tip 3/3Idiomatic Usage
Understand it's an idiom; don't interpret it literally, like physically moving someone's rear.
When we reached the summit, I realized I was bringing up the rear of our group.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Position
Often refers to actual physical location, being the last in line.
During the parade, the clowns entertained the crowd while bringing up the rear.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Negative
The phrase isn't always negative; it can just state a fact, without implying failure.
Even though he was bringing up the rear, his fans cheered him on enthusiastically.
Pro Tip 3/3Idiomatic Usage
Understand it's an idiom; don't interpret it literally, like physically moving someone's rear.
When we reached the summit, I realized I was bringing up the rear of our group.
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