boots on the ground

noun[plural only]4

1. •
   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. •
   Personnel operating in an area of interest.

   • We need boots on the ground to make the border a real barrier. Ten thousand new Border Patrol agents have been authorized by Congress. — 2013
3. •
   The military policy of using ground forces.

   • So often boots on the ground is the American Way. — 2012
4. •
   (informal, figurative) The state or condition of being physically present at a place of interest in order to ascertain the current situation.

   • Michael Bordenaro (27 March 2024), “FAST FOOD LAYOFFS ARE HERE! THOUSANDS LOSING THEIR JOB...”, in YouTube, retrieved 27 Mar 2024: “I'm gonna be in California this summer. And I'll definitely be doing some boots on the ground research on [raise in minimum wage] while I'm there.”