bring up the rear

Idioms  

1. Be last in a line or sequence, as in As a slow walker, I'm used to bringing up the rear, or In test results Tom always brought up the rear. This term almost certainly came from the military but the earliest citation given by the Oxford English Dictionary is from a 1643 religious treatise by Sir Thomas Browne: “My desires onely are . . . to be but the last man, and bring up the Rere in Heaven.”

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Example Sentences

That’s why, when you look at the chart, fruits and nuts bring up the rear, with something like 1 percent of the climate impact of beef.

From Washington Post • Feb. 28, 2023

The counties with the highest death rates bring up the rear in getting vaccinated.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 12, 2022

Then there’s average household income, where West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico bring up the rear.

From Washington Times • Jun. 24, 2020

Lina leads off, Jay follows, and I bring up the rear.

From The New Yorker • May 23, 2019

“On the hike, I’ll lead the way, and Gary will bring up the rear, to make sure there aren’t any stragglers,” Mr. Hodge said, grinning to make it seem like a joke.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• chase
• fall behind
• falter
• lag
• pull