boots on the ground

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The ground forces actually fighting in a war or conflict, rather than troops not engaged…

   The ground forces actually fighting in a war or conflict, rather than troops not engaged or other military action such as air strikes.

   • The Pentagon may say we have enough, but that's not what I'm hearing from the boots on the ground.
2. 2

   Personnel operating in an area of interest.

   • And while the number of international boots on the ground might have appeared to be large, spread across the vast and difficult territory of Darfur, those 20,000 troops and police looked much less adequate.
   • We need boots on the ground to make the border a real barrier. Ten thousand new Border Patrol agents have been authorized by Congress.
3. 3

   The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to…

   The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to ascertain the current situation.

4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

      Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see boots, on, ground.

      • He did not make much of an entrance, he just made his way over to the edge of the lake and plopped his boots on the ground.

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