The committee wanted to root all the lazy people out of the club.
•The manager rooted out all the deadwood.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
root someone/thing out/up — find and get rid of someone or something. → root … English new terms dictionary
root — root1 W2S3 [ru:t] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(plant)¦ 2¦(cause of a problem)¦ 3¦(origin/main part)¦ 4¦(family connection)¦ 5 put down roots 6¦(tooth/hair etc)¦ 7 take root 8 have a (good) root round 9¦(language)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
out — out1 [ aut ] function word *** Out can be used in the following ways: as an adverb: We went out into the yard. He took out a penknife. after the verb to be : You were out when I called. The house was silent and all the lights were out. in the… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
out — I UK [aʊt] / US adverb, preposition *** Summary: Out can be used in the following ways: as an adverb: We went out into the garden. ♦ He took out a penknife. after the verb to be : You were out when I called. ♦ The house was silent and all the… … English dictionary
root — I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English rōt, from Old Norse; akin to Old English wyrt root, Latin radix, Greek rhiza Date: 12th century 1. a. the usually underground part of a seed plant body that originates… … New Collegiate Dictionary
root — root1 noun 1》 a part of a plant normally below ground, which acts as a support and collects water and nourishment. ↘a turnip, carrot, or other vegetable which grows as a root. 2》 the embedded part of a bodily organ or structure such as a hair … English new terms dictionary
weed out — verb remove unwanted elements (Freq. 2) The company weeded out the incompetent people The new law weeds out the old inequities • Syn: ↑comb out • Derivationally related forms: ↑comb out (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
root out — verb 1. pull up by or as if by the roots (Freq. 1) uproot the vine that has spread all over the garden • Syn: ↑uproot, ↑extirpate, ↑deracinate • Derivationally related forms: ↑deracination ( … Useful english dictionary
root — root1 [ rut ] noun *** ▸ 1 part of plant ▸ 2 part of hair/tooth/nail ▸ 3 origins/background ▸ 4 main cause/idea ▸ 5 in mathematics ▸ 6 basic form of word ▸ 7 base of chord in music ▸ 8 end of nerve ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) count the part of a plant that… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
root — 1 /ru:t/ noun (C) 1 PLANT the part of a plant or tree that grows under the ground and gets water from the soil: Be careful not to damage the roots when repotting. | tree roots 2 CAUSE OF A PROBLEM the main cause of a problem: Money is the root of … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
root — [[t]ru͟ːt[/t]] ♦♦♦ roots, rooting, rooted 1) N COUNT: usu pl The roots of a plant are the parts of it that grow under the ground. ...the twisted roots of an apple tree. 2) V ERG If you root a plant or cutting or if it roots, roots form on the… … English dictionary
