root for

Hi, everyone:

Though Justin Timberlake says he no longer speaks to ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, he's still rooting for her. "I wish her well, and I want to see her win," Timberlake tells GQ magazine in its August issue, on newsstands July 25.

I wonder if "root for” is common and ok to be said to express a full support for someone in daily life, such as before a basketball match, or a race competition by someone's friends and family. If not, could you tell me some common expression that means giving full support.

Best wishes

hly2004 said:

Hi, everyone:

Though Justin Timberlake says he no longer speaks to ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, he's still rooting for her. "I wish her well, and I want to see her win," Timberlake tells GQ magazine in its August issue, on newsstands July 25.

I wonder if "root for” is common and ok to be said to express a full support for someone in daily life, such as before a basketball match, or a race competition by someone's friends and family. If not, could you tell me some common expression that means giving full support.

Best wishes

It's quite a common phrase in my part of the world, Hly. And, yes, your examples are exactly where you'd use this saying. You can root for someone to be successful in writing an exam, getting a job, etc. and you can root for your favourite sports teams, etc. It's really quite common.

I've got it, thank you, Dimcl
👁 Smile :-)

Root has a different meaning in Australia.

In Australia and New Zealand, to root = to have sexual intercourse.
It's roughly equivalent to the US word "screw".

Rooted can also mean "tired, exhausted, worn out", both for people and objects.
After working all day, and partying all night, he was completely rooted.
The engine in my old car is completely rooted.

We know what it means in America, but we still smile.

This is a true story.
A young Canadian came to teach in an Australian high school.
Her Year 9 class was interested in getting to know her better, and asked her what sports she liked. She replied "I used to root for the Saskatchewan Roughriders."
She didn't understand why the class fell about in uncontrollable laughter.

Thank you, Brioche,
Your answer increases my knowledge of this word.

👁 Smile :-)