Collocation
What's the root cause?
To ask about the fundamental, underlying, or original reason for a problem or phenomenon, rather than just its symptoms or immediate triggers.
Definition
'What's the root cause?' is a common English collocation. To ask about the fundamental, underlying, or original reason for a problem or phenomenon, rather than just its symptoms or immediate triggers.
What's the + root + cause?
“We need to understand, "What's the root cause of this decline in sales?"”
Examples
- The team met to identify the root cause of the production delay.
- We need to address the root cause, not just the symptoms, to find a lasting solution.
- Investigating the accident, the experts searched for the root cause of the equipment malfunction.
Show more examples
- Finding the root cause of the system failure is our top priority for preventing future issues.
- Poor communication was identified as the root cause of their ongoing disagreements.
- The doctor tried diligently to determine the root cause of the patient's recurring pain.
- Instead of blaming others, let's discover the root cause of the problem and work on it.
- Understanding the root cause of poverty is crucial for developing effective and sustainable solutions.
- She asked, 'What's the root cause of all this confusion and inefficiency in the department?'
Learn this in a path
More at B2 level
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More fixed phrases
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