Get its hands

Question

The colonists deported thousands of able men in order for the U.S. to get its hands on a large influx of slaves.

The colonists deported thousands of able men in order for the U.S. to gain a large influx of slaves.

Which one sounds the best? Can you reword it in a better way?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

onelook
The colonists deported thousands of able men in order for the U.S. to get its hands on a large influx of slaves.
The colonists deported thousands of able men in order for the U.S. to gain a large influx of slaves.

Which one sounds ~~the~~ ~~best?~~ better? Can you reword it in a better way?

"get its hands on" might be too informal for your purposes, though I don't know what those are, so you'll have to use your own judgment on that.

I think I'd write

The colonists deported thousands of able men so that they could import a large number of slaves.

(You can't say "the U.S." unless you know for a fact that the U.S. actually existed at that time.)

CJ

Get its hands

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