trace back to

phrasal verbPart oftrace

trace back to — phrasal verb

1. to find the original source or cause of something by examining the chain of even

1.phrasal verb
Definition

to find the original source or cause of something by examining the chain of events that led to it

Example

The tradition of giving gifts at New Year can be traced back to ancient Chinese customs.

Her love of cooking traces back to afternoons spent in her grandmother's kitchen as a small child.