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In America “root” means “barrack” so probably the translation pun you were thinking of wasn’t intended.

"Root for" someone means to cheer for someone or look forward to someone's success. You root for sports teams, your kid to do well on their test, or for your candidate to win an election.

Barrack in British English can mean to jeer or boo someone. That's the opposite of root. I've never heard the word barrack used like this in America.

In australia we use barrack the opposite way you do, apparently. I assumed the GP was an aussie, but it seems some people didn't like my comment.

Barrack??? Was that a typo?

As a verb, it means "cheer" - they are cheering for him.

Plenty of other meanings use as a noun, but that's not how it's used here

Yes, but in Australia root means to fuck.

Also the somewhat old fashioned phrase “Up the [magpies or other team]” also would have the opposite meaning in the US than it does in Aus. In fact I hear the US meaning more and more, probably due to TV

Looks like it's an Aus/NZ thing. Funnily enough the British meaning is the opposite (to jeer).

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