In this blog post, we explore fun phrases called idioms that use the word “root.” Idioms are expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say but have a unique meaning of their own. Let’s learn some of these root idioms!
Root Idioms
Here are 20 root idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
Root for
Meaning: Cheer or support someone.
Example: I always root for my brother’s soccer team.
Lay roots
Meaning: Settle down or establish a home.
Example: They decided to lay roots in New York.
Root out
Meaning: Remove or eliminate something.
Example: We need to root out the old files.
Root cause
Meaning: The main reason for something.
Example: Overeating was the root cause of his discomfort.
Strike at the root
Meaning: Deal with the source of a problem.
Example: The new laws strike at the root of the issue.
Take root
Meaning: Become established or start to grow.
Example: The new policies quickly took root in the community.
Deep-rooted
Meaning: Firmly established.
Example: She has deep-rooted beliefs about education.
At the root of
Meaning: The underlying cause of something.
Example: Miscommunication was at the root of their problems.
Root around
Meaning: Search for something by moving things around.
Example: He was rooting around in the attic for old photos.
Pull up roots
Meaning: Leave one’s home/origin to move somewhere else.
Example: They pulled up roots and moved to Canada.
Root of the matter
Meaning: The heart of the issue.
Example: Let’s get to the root of the matter quickly.
Root access
Meaning: Unrestricted access to a system.
Example: Only the IT manager has root access to the server.
Root and branch
Meaning: Completely and thoroughly.
Example: The company needs a root and branch review.
Put down roots
Meaning: Settle down and make a place your home.
Example: They decided to put down roots in the suburbs.
Root awakening
Meaning: A sudden, often unpleasant realization.
Example: Losing his job was a root awakening for him.
Roots run deep
Meaning: Having a long history or deep connections.
Example: Her family’s roots run deep in the community.
Rooted to the spot
Meaning: Unable to move or act.
Example: He was rooted to the spot with fear.
Root something out
Meaning: Find and remove something.
Example: We need to root out the bad practices.
Root for trouble
Meaning: Act in a way that is likely to cause problems.
Example: Arguing with the boss is rooting for trouble.
Back to the roots
Meaning: Return to the origin or the basics.
Example: He decided to go back to the roots of traditional cooking.
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