fine-tooth comb

EnglishEdit

Alternative formsEdit

NounEdit

fine-tooth comb (plural fine-tooth combs)

  1. A comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth.
  2. (figuratively) A means of making a thorough search.
    The police went through his possessions with a fine-tooth comb.

Usage notesEdit

Sometimes misunderstood as fine toothcomb, especially in the figurative sense. This form of the expression, and the associated concept of a toothcomb, is often considered erroneous, but fine toothcomb is said to be now 'accepted in standard English' by at least one major dictionary [1].

TranslationsEdit

See alsoEdit

VerbEdit

fine-tooth comb

  1. To go over or through with a fine-tooth comb
  2. (figuratively) To search meticulously.
    Synonyms: comb over, comb through, pore over

TranslationsEdit
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