# put the bottom rail on top

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/put-the-bottom-rail-on-top
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To reverse a hierarchy.

## Examples

- The new manager wants to put the bottom rail on top.
- By giving the interns full control over the project, the CEO decided to put the bottom rail on top.
- The revolutionary movement sought to put the bottom rail on top, dismantling the long-standing power structures that had marginalized the working class for generations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.