fine-tooth comb

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fine-tooth comb

(fīn′to͞oth′) or fine-toothed comb (-to͞otht′, -to͞othd′)

1. A comb with teeth set close together.

2. A method of searching or investigating in minute detail: examined the figures with a fine-tooth comb but found no errors.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fine-tooth comb

fine-toothed comb

1. a comb with fine teeth set closely together

2. go over with a fine-tooth comb go over with a fine-toothed comb go through with a fine-tooth comb go through with a fine-toothed comb to examine very thoroughly

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fine′-tooth`

(or fine′-toothed`) comb′,

a comb having narrow, closely set teeth.

Idioms:

go over or through with a fine-tooth comb, to examine in close detail; search thoroughly.

[1830–40]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	fine-tooth comb - a comb with teeth set close together fine-toothed comb comb - a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair
	2.	fine-tooth comb - a method of examining in minute detail; "he went over the contract with a fine-tooth comb looking for loopholes" fine-toothed comb examination, scrutiny - the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)

Translations

fine-tooth comb

[ˌfaɪnˌtuːθˈkəʊm] N → peine m de púas finas
to go over or through sth with a fine-tooth comb → revisar or examinar algo a fondo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

fine-tooth comb

n to go over something with a fine-tooth comb → etw genau unter die Lupe nehmen; area → etw durchkämmen; room → etw gründlich durchsuchen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

fine-tooth comb

[ˈfaɪnˌtuːθˈkəʊm] n to go through sth with a fine-tooth comb (fig) → passare qc al setaccio

References in classic literature ?

She assumes a crushing dignity and goes on serenely practicing with her fine-tooth comb and quoting poetry just the same as if you were not present at all.