2024 (1)
My carpool partner and I talk about everything under the
sun. Today he drove, so I get to talk.
NPR was talking about the decision that the US congress is trying to make about
intervention in Syrian. As it has been used many times in the past, the phrase
"American boots on the ground" was repeatedly mentioned.
I told my partner that the most difficult part of learning English for a
foreigner is the slang terms like this. I have no idea why could not they use standard
English like: American troop on the ground. How should people come to the
conclusion that "American boots" here means American troop? Can a US
boots manufacture still sell to Syria? If it does, wouldn't the fact mean that
American boots are already, and would still be, on the ground of Syria? Also,
aren't boots all made in China nowadays?
My partner said that he had never thought of it like that. But now that I
pointed it out, he does see the confusion it might has caused. People might mistaken it as that the
US is doing economic sanction against Syria by not exporting boots to the
country.
When we finally reached our company, while opening the door to enter the
building, I announced formally: American boots are entering XX company.
He corrected me promptly: "Chinese made" American boots.
