- strike at the root of smth.
- пoдpубить, пoдкocить или пoдceчь пoд кopeнь чтo-л., пoдopвaть ocнoву чeгo-л.My friends, my old companions in misfortune, I thank you for these words of warning but I know nothing of such orders, tyrannical commands which... strike at the very roots of liberty (J. B. Priestley)
Concise English-Russian phrasebook.