From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishroot and branchroot and branchGET RID OFif you destroy or change something root and branch, you get rid of it or change it completely and permanently because it is bad a root and branch reform of the electoral system → root
Examples from the Corpus
root and branch• I give my hon. Friend the absolute assurance that the Government will continue to oppose it root and branch.• A better solution is to prune roots and branches.• The roots and branches of the Suez war require an arboretum of their own.• This root and branch reform of personal taxation has many attractions for those on the left.• But Staggs's Gardens had been cut up root and branch. 