root up
Extract from soil
To root up is to dig or pull something out by the roots, removing it completely from the ground: We spent the weekend rooting up the old shrubs.
The phrase extends to thorough elimination of anything embedded: rooting up corruption in the department.
It emphasizes extraction from the source rather than surface removal.
- weedUninvited plant
- weed outRemove unwanted elements
- deracinateTo pull up entirely
- unearthExcavate or reveal hidden
- extirpateDestroy utterly, completely
extract · pull · eliminate · get rid of · abolish · upheaval · obliterate · purge · rip out · dislodge · dig deep · catharsis · tear · excavate · dig out · metamorphosis · liberation · grub