root out
verbEtymology From the notion of eradication: ripping something out by the roots.
1
To remove or abolish completely.
- They rooted out all vestiges of corruption.
- They rooted out all the burdock from their paddocks.
2
To search for and discover.
- Near-synonym: suss out
- It took them hours to root out exactly where the water was coming in.
- Related terms
- root and branch