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Glite Dictionary
to bring up the rear

to bring up the rear

7 4.6
To be the last person or thing in a group that is moving
  • phrasal verb
  • /brɪŋ ʌp ðə rɪr/
translation icon : ir al final
  • Here, you two go in front of me, I'll bring up the rear.
  • players bringing up the rear
  • young males bring up the rear

Examples

  • Finally, Tobias simply pointed to a hatchway, and the party went below, Andrew bringing up the rear.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Slattery and Jakob bring up the rear, slogging through the snow like weary soldiers.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • And finally bringing up the rear...

    Bakgat 2 (2010)

  • You guys are bringing up the rear!

    An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

  • Johnson, bring up the rear.

    Tunnel Rats (2008)

  • Sergeant, bring up the rear.

    Camel Spiders (2011)

  • I'll bring up the rear.

    Escape to Victory (1981)

  • All the guests walked in single file along the corridor, Vicenta and the children bringing up the rear.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Lando and Wendy followed, with the men bringing up the rear.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • As we started our hike up the mountain, Sarah volunteered to bring up the rear so she could enjoy the view behind us.

Synonyms

to drop back
vsto bring up the rear
17 3.6

To move to a position behind other players, for example to prepare a pass or to help defend

is being last in the group while moving, not just falling back
to drop behind
vsto bring up the rear
2 3.2

To fall behind others because you move or work more slowly

is the position at the rear during movement rather than just slowing
to get on the end
vsto bring up the rear
1 2.7

To go to the end of a line or row and be the last person

is the state of being last while moving with a group
to get on the end of the queue
vsto bring up the rear
  • UK
2.9

Join the back of a line of people waiting

is being at the last position while moving rather than just joining
to strag
vsto bring up the rear
9.9

To fall behind when moving with others

is staying at the last spot while moving with the group

Antonyms

to lead
∞ 1.0

To guide a group or be in charge

to advance
417 3.4

To help something move forward or become better

How Far Back

to bring up the rear
7 4.6
to lag
24 3.0
to trail
91 2.2

Surface Forms

bring up the rear infinitive
bringing up the rear present participle
brings up the rear third person singular
brought up the rear past
brought up the rear past participle

Morphology

bring + up + the + rear

The noun 'rear' clearly signals the back/last position, so a learner who knows the constituents can get a strong clue that the phrase refers to the back of a group. However, 'bring up' is polysemous (e.g., raise, mention) and does not transparently mean 'place at the back' in isolation, so the exact idiomatic sense requires knowing the fixed construction rather than pure composition.

Etymology

The phrase bring up the rear comes from people walking in a line, where one person stayed at the back—the rear—to watch others and keep anyone who fell behind with the group. So, it means 'to be in the last position'.