fine-toothed comb

/'faintu:θd'koum/
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fine-toothed comb

He used a fine-toothed comb to remove the tangles from his daughter's hair.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A comb with teeth set very close together: A physical tool used for grooming hair, especially to remove small particles like lice or dandruff, due to its narrowly spaced teeth.
    • A method of examining in minute detail: A metaphorical expression describing an extremely thorough and careful search or investigation, leaving no detail unchecked.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (Physical Object):
    • She used a fine-toothed comb to remove the lice from her child's hair.
    • For fine, straight hair, a fine-toothed comb works better than a wide-toothed one.
  • Noun (Metaphorical Method):
    • The auditor went through the accounts with a fine-toothed comb.
    • Before submitting the manuscript, she went over it with a fine-toothed comb for any errors.
Advanced Usage
  • "to go over/through something with a fine-toothed comb": This is the standard idiomatic phrase. It means to examine something with extreme thoroughness.
    • The detectives went through the crime scene with a fine-toothed comb, collecting every possible piece of evidence.
Variants and Related Words
  • Fine-tooth comb: An alternative, equally common spelling for the same term. The meaning is identical.
  • Fine-tooth (adj): Sometimes used attributively, as in "a fine-tooth search" or "fine-tooth analysis," meaning a very detailed one.
Synonyms
  • Scrutiny: Close and critical observation or examination.
  • Meticulous examination: An examination performed with great attention to detail.
  • Thorough search: A search conducted completely and carefully.
Related Idioms
  • Leave no stone unturned: To try every possible course of action in order to find something or solve a problem. This idiom shares the connotation of exhaustive effort with "fine-toothed comb."
  • Dot the i's and cross the t's: To be meticulous and precise, paying attention to every small detail.
fine-toothed comb

He used a fine-toothed comb to remove the tangles from his daughter's hair.

Noun
  1. a method of examining in minute detail
    • he went over the contract with a fine-tooth comb looking for loopholes
  2. a comb with teeth set close together

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