商家说穿“人字拖”会让脚踝、小腿和大腿变得匀称，会对腿部健美起到妙不可言的作用；医生说，穿“人字拖”有害健康，会引起关节疼痛、脚踝扭伤等一系列脚部问题。争论虽在，但定论未下，所以，代表着时尚、自由、活泼和快乐的“人字拖”依然是年轻人的最爱。

请看外电相关报道：Perfect for hot weather, they have been the fashion hit of the summer. But doctors have warned flip¹ flops² can be as bad for your health as they are for your career.

Business chiefs said last month that wearing them to work was an invitation to be sacked. Now medics have joined the attack by saying they can lead to joint³ pain, shin splints and twisted ankles.

Flip-Flops就是“人字拖”，或者说是“夹趾拖鞋”。单听该词的发音，那踢踢踏踏的节奏就已传出了一种随意和自在。另外，请特别关注flip flops作单数时的几个热门含义：

Flip-flop（翻盖手机）：对于flip-flop作“翻盖手机”讲，大多数人都不陌生。该词意源于flip-flop的原意“后手翻”，如：a flip-flop stunt⁴（后手翻绝技）。

Flip-flop（方向、观点突然改变）：在美国俚语中，flip-flop常用来形容那些突然改变立场的人。比如，布什当年在大选时就频频使用flip-flop来攻击对手约翰·克里不果断，乱变观点。

Flip-flop（啪嗒啪嗒的声响）：若要形容“百叶窗撞在窗户上发出啪嗒啪嗒的响声”就可说：The shutters⁵ went flip-flop against the window。