branch (redirected from branchless)

an olive branch

hold out/offer an olive branch - to do or say something in order to show that you want to end a disagreement with someone. I've invited them around to dinner by way of an olive branch.

See also: olive

hold out/offer an olive branch

to do or say something in order to show that you want to end a disagreement with someone. He held out an olive branch to the opposition by releasing 42 political prisoners. (often + to)

See also: hold, olive

root and branch (formal)

if something is changed or removed root and branch, it is changed or removed completely because it is bad. Racism must be eliminated, root and branch.

See also: root

root-and-branch (formal)

root and branch - if something is changed or removed root and branch, it is changed or removed completely because it is bad. These proposals amount to a root-and-branch reform of the system. (always before noun)

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branch out

to become involved in a wider range of activities. Women are branching out into leadership roles at many levels in the army.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of branch (= the part of a tree that grows out from the main part)