root

glued/rooted to the spot

if you are glued to the spot, you cannot move, usually because you are very shocked or frightened. I stood there rooted to the spot as he came nearer and nearer.

See also: glue, spot

the grass roots

the ordinary people in a society or political organization and not the leaders. The feeling among the grass roots of the party is that the leaders aren't radical enough. (often + of)

See also: grass

grass-roots

the grass roots - the ordinary people in a society or political organization and not the leaders. He's popular enough within the leadership but he doesn't have much grass-roots support. (always before noun)

put down roots

if you put down roots in a place, you do things which show that you want to stay there, for example making friends or buying a home. It would be hard to leave Brighton after eleven years - he's put down roots there.

See also: down

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: branch

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)

take root

if an idea, belief, or system takes root somewhere, it starts to be accepted or established there. Democracy is now struggling to take root in most of these countries.

See also: take

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put down roots

to feel that you belong in a place. He hasn't put down roots anywhere because he has trouble making new friends.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form pull up roots to move away from a place in which you felt comfortable: It's hard to pull up roots after living in the area for ten years.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of put down roots (= to start to grow roots in the ground)

See also: down

root for someone/something

to support or encourage a person or team. I always root for the home team. When you take the test tomorrow, we'll be rooting for you.

Usage notes: often used when talking about a sports competition

root out something

to find and remove a problem. She promises to root out corruption in state government. Retreating forces can blend into the landscape, making it more difficult to root them out.

rooted to the spot

not able to move. Mary was afraid and wanted to run away, but she was rooted to the spot and watched as the building collapsed.

See also: spot

take root

to become established. The organization took root all over the world and began expanding its many programs.

Usage notes: often refers to an idea or set of beliefs: Has democracy truly taken root in the region?

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of take root (= to start to grow roots in the ground)

See also: take