Programs like our workplace wellness program, train the trainer programs – these are not high cost programs. But they do require boots on the ground. You have to do more than write a check. You have to mobilize and activate the kind of human capital in communities where we operate. That's why we tend to focus our social investments in communities where we have a presence. We have very talented medical professionals that run our own health clinics for our employees that are actively involved in helping to partner with local organizations to build capacity," he said.

My comments:

Boots on the ground originally refers to foot soldiers in the army who used to wear boots, leather shoes that are strong and tough.

Hence, this sentence – these programs, though “not high cost”, “do require boots on the ground” – means they involve a lot of people to actually carry out them out, even though they are not expensive.

Boots “on the ground” also suggests that these programs are down to earth, involving activities at the grassroots level, i.e. closely working together with local communities.

Related stories:

Common thread

A fact of life

Leave no stone unturned

Train wreck

Keep up with Joneses

Finishing touch

No great shakes

Warts and all

Catch -22 situation

Pull-up trey

I'm sold

Flip-flop

Sit on its hands

Casing the joint

Free rein

Bear the brunt of

Cross one’s path

Tribute projects

Off the beaten track

At the forefront of

Seat warmer

The rule of the jungle

On-the-go

On the fence

Wild guess

In the high teens

Touch up

Unforced error

Catch a break

City slicker

Political correctness

Gee up

Big mind

Blanket statement

Making knee-jerk changes is not in our DNA

Pick one's brains

A good eye

Thank one's stars for

Real money

Nodding acquaintance

Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文僅代表作者本人觀點，與本網立場無關。歡迎大家討論學術問題，尊重他人，禁止人身攻擊和發布一切違反國家現行法律法規的內容。

About the author:

Zhang Xin（張欣） has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.