root and branch
Down to foundations
Root and branch means completely and thoroughly, eliminating every part of something.
The phrase evokes pulling up a plant entirely—roots and branches alike—leaving nothing behind.
It typically describes radical reform or total destruction: The committee recommended root and branch reform of the tax system.
As an adjective: a root-and-branch overhaul of the department.
To the fullest extent
- absolutelyCompletely, without exception
- entirelyTo the full extent
- whollyTo the full extent
- totallyTo the full extent
fundamentally · radically · comprehensively · thoroughly · completely · unconditionally · categorically · unqualifiedly
utterly
To the fullest extent
- absolutelyCompletely, without exception
- entirelyTo the full extent
- whollyTo the full extent
totally · fundamentally · radically · comprehensively · thoroughly · completely · unconditionally · categorically · unqualifiedly · unreservedly
- completenesscomplete, completely, entire, totally, total
- TCMqi, yin, yang, yin yang, yin and yang
root and branchpartially
To an incomplete extent
incompletely · halfway · in part · piecemeal · somewhat
root and branchsuperficially
At surface level only
on the surface · cosmetically · skin-deep · in name only · nominally
root, branch, roots, rooted, rooting, rootless, uproot, uprooted, branches